Bentong, Bukit Koman 文冬，武吉公满

Gate of Heaven Pdm, Bentong 文冬上天之门支团

I learned about the formation of Legion of Mary in Bentong and Triang ( state of Pahang ) recently, a great news indeed.

Through the arrangement of Fr. Joseph Low, Parish Priest of Sacred Heart Church, Bentong, we visited the two new praesidium on April 19 & 20 respectively.

Unknowingly, I was opportune to be present at a historical moment ... the handing back of Sacred Heart Church, which has been developed and managed by CDD (（Congregatio Discipulorum Domini Disciple of the Lord - lacking information in English) for the past 55 years, to the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur.

Fr. Andrew Kooi, a diocesan priest, will take over the parish from Fr. Joseph Low on May 1, 2012, thus signifying the closing of CDD mission in Bentong.

Sacred Heart Church and the adjacent Bentong Catholic High School are two historical and testimonial landmarks recording the great sacrifices and contributions of CDD to our local Catholic church in general, the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur in particular.

In 2008, the Catholic church has informed the Ministry of Education of its intention of taking back possession of the land of the Catholic High School on or before 31-12-2012. It meant the school has to move out before the stipulated date. (The school was built by the CDD in 1957. However, due to changes in education system in the seventies, the land belongs to church, the management of school is under the Ministry of Education in order to receive grant from the government)

The Bentong Chinese community was upset over the decision of the church. The school is a semi government aided Chinese school with 87 % students from Chinese, 10 % Malay and 3 % Indian families.

Many non-Christian students joined Bentong Catholic Youth Leage formed by the CDD pioneer Rev Fr. Ma (deceased) in 1962. It produced many leaders and a priest. In 1976, Fr. Ma formed the Holy Rosary Catholic Youth leage in Holy Rosary Church, Brickfieds, and it is still very much active and alive today after more than 35 years.

Shifting a school is a big event of the community.

As the school and church are as old as our nation, it prompted some comments from the local residents that the church is following the example of the government in "purging" foreign elements ... the foreign priests and non-national type schools. In this case, the church is "purging the missionary priests and non-English school".

I hoped they are wrong, and prayed that whatever decision made by the church, is for the good of the people of God, the church and the community at large.

Man can manipulate history, but not a single entry or record in the Kingdom of God written in blood.

Whatever it is, there is one thing must be purged, not only by the church, but by all people - the use of lethal cyanide in gold mining near a new village.

My friend Lim Chee Keong brought us to Bukit Koman New Village for the ONE and ONLY "bak Zam" duck in Pahang (most probably in the country also) !

The Australian gold mining company which uses cyanide in processing gold, is just sited next to Bukit Koman New Village! (see latest news in Bukit Koman)

(See more pictures in Facebook)

(Ban Cyanide Facebook homepage)













白斩鸭 Bak Zam Duck











听到了一个好消息，彭亨州的文冬及直凉成立了圣母军。

透过文冬圣心堂主任罗志明神父的安排下，我和太太在四月十九及二十日，拜访了这两个支团。

在不知道情况下，这趟拜访，也使我体验了历史的重要一刻 - 在文冬经营了五十五年的主徒会，将会在五月一日，正式把圣心堂交回给吉隆坡总教区。

罗神父将在五月一日，正式把堂区交到一位教区神父手中，这就意味着主徒会在文冬的传教使命也宣告结束。

圣心堂及毗邻的文冬公教中学，是主徒会在文冬超过半个世纪的牺牲及奉献的见证，记载了它对本地教会，特别是吉隆坡总教区的卓越贡献。

在2008年，天主教会向教育部及校方发出通知信，指天主教会最迟将于2012年12月31日收回文冬公教中学的土地，该校必须于上述日期搬迁。

文冬国民型中学是于1957年由天主教会创建（主徒会管理），至今已有53年历史，曾经孕育许多在政坛举足轻重的人物，它于70年代由政府接管，成为改制中学。教会保留土地拥有权，而政府则管理权则归政府。、

文冬的华社当时对教会的行动非常的不满。文冬公教中心目前有大约六百多名学生，87%来自华人家庭，10%来自马来人，及3%来自印度人家庭。

已故主徒会先驱马海声神父，于1962成立了文冬公教青年会（公青）。该会吸引了许多非基督徒学生及青年的参加，形成了一股青年动力。许多非教徒领先成为天主教徒。该会造就了许多教友领袖及一位神父。在1976年，马海声神父在吉隆坡玫瑰堂成立了『玫瑰公青』。经历了超过三十五年的洗礼，玫瑰公青今天仍然非常的活跃及蓬勃。

公教中学到搬迁，是文冬华人社群一件关注的大事。

因着教会及学校都有着如国家般的悠久历史，当地的人们就做出了许多评语。其中一个如此的评述说，教会也向政府学习，建国后，“驱除”外来（国）因素 。。外国传教士及非国语源流学校。而教会则是“驱除”传教修会及非英语源流学校，做法是同出一辙。

我希望并非如此。我祈求教会的任何决定，都是以天主子民，教会及当地团体为重，造福大家。

人可以操纵历史，但却不能挪动天国里，以鲜血书写记载的任何一字或一句历史记录。

不过，有一点我是觉得赞成要“驱除”的，那就是在新村旁以剧毒山埃采金。

老友林志强带我们到武吉公满新村，除了见识到澳洲采矿公司的所在，也第一次品尝了“只此一家，别处没有”的白斩鸭！

(更多照片 Facebook)

(禁止山埃面子书）