KUCHING: Fuk Teck Kung Temple in Beliong received a shot in the arm on Saturday when the state government approved an acre piece of land and RM50,000 grant for its expansion plans.Environment and Public Health Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, who announced the good news at the temple’s 30th anniversary dinner at Padungan Community Centre on Saturday, said this showed that the state government supported religious freedom and the building of places of worship.

“Two weeks ago, the temple’s building committee came to see me concerning the temple’s expansion plans. I then met Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud who did not hesitate to approve the one-acre plot next to the temple for its expansion,” he said.

Wong said the grant included RM40,000 from Taib and RM10,000 from himself.

He was pleased to note that the temple had grown from a humble beginning of an attap-covered hut to a magnificent place of worship and tourist attraction.

“This is the result of the hard work and cooperation between the temple’s committee and building committee as well as the support of the devotees, public and private sectors over the years,” he said.

Wong stressed that religions should be incorporated into the people’s way of life  so that   they  can  develop both spiritually  and  physically.

“Malaysia is a multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-cultural country. It practises religious freedom and through religion, a society of high moral and values can be created,” he said.

Honorary advisors to the temple Senator Datuk Sim Kheng Hui and Datuk Alfred Yap, and Kuching City South Council Mayor James Chan were among the 4,000 people at the dinner.

The event was also to celebrate the recent completion of a RM3 million Heavenly Pagoda which is the latest addition to the temple.

In a related development, the Heavenly Pagoda building was opened by Wong at Beliong yesterday morning.

He was optimistic that the temple had the potential of becoming another tourist destination in Sarawak.

“Many tourists would be curious to learn how a temple can exist and develop into a magnificent landmark in a non-Chinese area,” he said.

Also present were Asajaya assemblyman Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and the Consul General of the Consulate of the People’s Republic of China to Kuching, Xie Fugen.