This is my story - 25

25 – Kuching – East Malaysia

In April 1948 at the invitation of the Sarawak Government, a team of officers visited East Malaysia to explore the possibility of commencing Salvation Army work there. Much negotiation with the British authorities governing Sarawak followed. The Army was convinced there was a genuine need for its presence. Earlier investigations confirmed the Government’s concern over problems of delinquency and prostitution among young girls. Our leaders were also assured of Government support.

Lieut. Colonel Frederick Harvey the Officer Commanding made it plain to the authorities the mission of The Salvation Army. The Governor Sir Anthony Abell clearly understood our evangelical mandate and gave the assurance of his Government’s support in our integrated ministry catering for the physical, mental and spiritual. General John Gowans summed up our mission so beautifully – to save souls, grow saints and serve suffering humanity.

The Army was offered the lease of the land at Sekama Road for church and community service on payment of a pepper corn per year! (I cannot recall making that payment! I suppose it was just a legal term that the land leased to us belonged to the Government)

In 1950 Major Bertha Grey and Captain Willis arrived on the Raja Brooke and stayed at the Government boarding house. Government officials were very keen for the Army to begin operations and gave full support. A building at Jalan Haji Taha was placed at the disposal of the Army and the Army began taking in residents. Within a short period of time the Home was full to capacity.

Captain Joan Sharman was appointed from England to assist Captain Willis. I recall meeting this young captain when she passed through Singapore. She attended a meeting at Balestier Corps gave her testimony at the open air meeting at the corner of Mandalay and Balestier Roads. Captain Sharman started Salvation Army Guards and Sunbeams at the Home (these groups were later renamed Girl Guides and Brownies and affiliated to the international movements) Sunday School and spiritual meetings were held in the Home for the girls and staff.

The Girls’ Home, as it was called then, was officially opened in October 1951 by Sir Anthony Foster Abell, Governor of Sarawak. Lieut. Colonel Frederick Harvey the Officer Commanding was present for the occasion.

The Corps (church) started to hold meetings in May 1953 in a small room above a mechanic’s workshop at Petanak Road at Padungan and Captain Agnes Morgan was appointed to take charge on 17th September 1953 – the first pastor of church.

Earlier in 1945 just after the war, the captain was among a team of New Zealand officers sent to Singapore and Malaya to hold on the work here while the officers who had been interned during the war years (1942-45) could take their homeland furlough. After a short term in Singapore she went to China and served there for a number of years until ordered to leave the country by the Communist Government.

She was fluent in Mandarin and commenced work among the Chinese educated in the Padungan area. Quite a number of Chinese speaking youths and children were attracted to the Army and many became soldiers. So Kuching began as a Chinese speaking Corps. Despite the lack of facilities the work expanded very quickly and there was a thriving Corps.

In October 1954 after the commissioning, Lieutenants Fong Pui Chan and Chan Chin Chai were appointed to the Corps and Girls’ Home respectively as assistants. Lieutenant Fong served till she was appointed to Malacca in 1957.

In 1958 Kuching Corps moved to its present location at Sekama Road. The larger and modern worship hall and YP Hall made it more convenient to add programmes to serve the people. The folk from the Padungan area continued their association with the Army and helped in the outreach to the people in the Sekama and Chawan Road area. New people started coming to the meetings and more members were added to our roll.

In 1958 the Army was requested to take over the running of a Boys’ Club and Hostel at Song Kheng Hai. The name was changed to The Salvation Army Boys’ Home and moved to the present location – a bungalow with a large compound to allow expansion. This was provided by the Sarawak Government. Captain and Mrs. Robert and Thelma Webb were appointed to take charge of this Home.

In 1961 Captain Robert Webb initiated the opening of a carpentry workshop in the compound of the Home. This carpentry workshop served a two-fold purpose – training boys with a skill and at the same time generating income for the Home. The Government even built quarters adjoining to the Boys’ Home for the officers in 1964.

The Girls’ Home was catering for children and girls who needed care and protection and elderly without family support. The building was inadequate for our needs. The Government encouraged the Army to expand our work and in 1959 provided the Army with a purpose built building at Uplands, Ong Tiang Swee Road. One section was for the nursery, another area for children and girls and the third section for the elderly.

My wife and I took up our appointment as Officers of Kuching Corps on 1st May 1962 and we spent three very happy years ministering to the people there.