167-year-old Anglican church in line for Sarawak heritage listing

 Deputy minister Snowdan Lawan says gazetting St Paul’s Anglican Church in Lingga will protect it from uncontrolled development and strengthen the local community's cultural identity.

St Paul’s Anglican Church in Banting, Lingga, was built in 1859 and is among Sarawak’s oldest churches. (Wikipedia pic)

PETALING JAYA:

The 167-year-old St Paul’s Church in Lingga is in line for heritage listing in Sarawak to safeguard the site from uncontrolled development.

Sarawak deputy minister Snowdan Lawan said the Anglican church, built in 1859, holds significant historical and heritage value, making it deserving of official protection.

Listing the church under the Sarawak Heritage Ordinance would help safeguard the site from uncontrolled development, while also strengthening the cultural identity of the local community and enriching Sarawak’s wider heritage assets, Dayak Daily quoted him as saying.

Snowdan, who handles creative industry and performing arts matters, said heritage listing would encourage greater community participation in heritage conservation and raise public awareness about preserving historical landmarks.

“However, the process can only proceed following approval from the Anglican Church, particularly the bishops of the Anglican Church of Sarawak and Brunei,” he added. - FMT