Archbishop Simon Poh accepts state honour for Sarawak Catholic Church
In conjunction with the 78th birthday celebration of Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak Tun Pehin Sri Dr Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, Archbishop Simon Poh of the Archdiocese of Kuching, received the Darjah Panglima Setia Bintang Sarawak (PSBS) award which carries the title ‘Dato’.
Oct 26, 2024

KUCHING: In conjunction with the 78th birthday celebration of Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak Tun Pehin Sri Dr Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, Archbishop Simon Poh of the Archdiocese of Kuching, received the Darjah Panglima Setia Bintang Sarawak (PSBS) award which carries the title ‘Dato’.
The investiture took place on October 12 at the Astana Negeri, where the archbishop expressed gratitude to the Sarawak Government and shared his acceptance message, emphasising the significance of faith and community service.
Archbishop Dato’ Dr Simon Poh highlighted the honour of accepting the PSBS award on behalf of the Catholic Church in Sarawak, recognising the contributions made by the Archdiocese of Kuching, Diocese of Sibu, and Diocese of Miri. He noted the impact of 62 Catholic mission schools across Sarawak, which have provided education to thousands of children, particularly in rural communities.
The archbishop also acknowledged the collaboration between the Catholic Church and the Sarawak Government in delivering welfare services. During the pandemic, he stated that the Church worked closely with the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee to implement safety protocols and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in rural areas.
In partnership with UNIFOR and the Islamic Information Centre (IIC), Archbishop Simon has fostered interfaith dialogue and cooperation among religious leaders to promote harmony and understanding within the community.
On behalf of his fellow bishops - Bishop Joseph Hii of Sibu and Bishop Richard Ng of Miri - the archbishop extended gratitude to the Governor and Sarawak Government for their recognition of the Church’s contributions. He reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s commitment to nation-building and fostering mutual respect and acceptance among all communities in Sarawak.
He urged Catholics and Christians to persist in their community-building efforts, working together for the common good of Sarawak and Malaysia.
In a personal message to his congregation, Archbishop Simon requested that he continue to be addressed simply as “Archbishop Simon Poh” without the title of ‘Dato’ or ‘Dr’ during Mass and church functions, emphasising his role as a shepherd to the faithful entrusted to his care.
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