Church committee upset over rejection of car park plan

KUCHING: Church committee from St Francis in Kota Samarahan is disappointed by the explanation given by Public Works Department for its rejection of the construction of a car park between the church and the road.

According to the department, the proposed parking lot would entail filling up the mud drain along the land reserve and this may be cause rain water to spill from the main road into the churchs compound.

Priest in-charge Reverend Dennis Gimang told The Borneo Post yesterday: If there is a will, there is a way. If there is no will, there will be excuses.

He added that the level of the churchs compound which is lower than the main road is used as the major excuse to reject the proposed project.

However, he reasoned the drain which is supposed to catch and channel water spilling from Jalan Datuk Mohammad Musa is dysfunctional as it is blocked at both ends after the completion of two roads leading into the churchs compound years ago, said Dennis.

The mud drain is stagnant for the past few years and is now a breeding ground for mosquitoes and a danger to pedestrians. It serves no purpose.

Dennis pointed out that three Penghulus from the nearby villagers had agreed to sign a petition letter to the authority and they were backed by Asajaya assemblyman Datuk Karim Rahman Hamzah.

In a recent interview, Dennis revealed that the proposed parking area measuring 180 metres long and 14 metres

wide could accommodate at least 60 vehicles for their parishioners.

He also said that parking was chaotic on weekend Mass and during church activities which will involve all the 12 chapels under its wing.

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Church committee upset over rejection of car park plan