Christmas came early last year to 51 local charitable organisations throughout the country when they received cheques totalling RM360,000 from NECF Malaysia. At a simple ceremony at the NECF office last November, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili gave away the cheques on behalf of NECF to representatives of the organisations run by Christians and other religious groups.
The money was part of the over half a million ringgit raised at the 2003 NECF 40-Day National Fast and Prayer, an annual drive organised by NECF in conjunction with Merdeka Day to mobilise Christians to fast and pray for the country’s welfare.
NECF had earlier given RM100,000 from the 2003 collection to the Darfur Children’s Fund while another RM20,000 was given to the Haiti Children’s Home.
Before giving out the cheques, Dr Ongkili thanked NECF for partnering the government in caring for the poor and needy of society. At a press conference after the ceremony, NECF Secretary-General Rev. Wong Kim Kong said the focus of giving for the 2004 collection would be education and social development. He explained that contributions would be made to schools, especially those in rural areas, that require funds for building repairs or facilities, and projects that promote community development.
However, NECF will continue to allocate a quarter of the yearly collection to foreign welfare projects, particularly those in Muslim countries.
By giving to the needy in other lands, “we will learn to look beyond our own needs,” Rev. Wong said. Charity should be extended to those in need, irrespective of their religion or race, he added. “We also hope that our contributions to our Muslim friends will help to defuse the conflict between the Christian and Muslim worlds,” he said.
Datuk Dr Ongkili presenting a cheque to a representative
while Rev. Wong looks on. On the far left is Datuk Dr Lim Thuan Seng, Bukit Gasing MP.
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