BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: The Teng Yun Chinese Temple recently held a charity dinner ceremony in Kampong Manggis where it donated BND54,400 (US$42,465) to various charitable organisations and private schools. Legislative Council member Lau How Teck was the guest of honour. Chinese Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Xiao Jianguo, Temple Deputy Chairman Tiah Eng Beng and guests as well as donation recipients were also in attendance.
Temple Chairman Lee Eng Ching shared in his welcoming remarks that the core purpose of the temple is to live by the principles of “doing good deeds is happiness” and “doing a good deed each day”, forming the bedrock of all their charitable endeavours. He emphasised the temple’s continuous readiness to assist those in need, whenever and wherever possible.
Lee also recounted a significant piece of the temple’s history: in 1958, Sultan Haji Omar Ali consented to donate a plot of land and BND45,000 as construction funds for the temple.
He further explained that this donated land is precisely where the temple stands today, and thanks to that contribution, the temple’s building was successfully completed by 1960. This act of philanthropy laid the foundation for the temple’s existence and its subsequent growth as a vital community welfare and cultural institution.
During the ceremony, several organisations received donations. The Pengiran Muda Mahkota Al-Muhtadee Billah Fund for Orphans was granted BND4,000, while the orphan funds for Brunei-Muara, Tutong, Temburong and Belait Districts each received BND3,000.
Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam and the National Welfare Body Fund each benefited BND3,000 and the Community Service Centre in Seria received BND1,000.
In addition to these, the Chinese temple extended its support to nine private schools across the nation. Chung Hwa Middle School in Bandar Seri Begawan (BSB) received BND3,000 and Chung Hua Middle School in Kuala Belait, Chung Hwa School in Labi, Chung Lian School in Sungai Liang, Chung Hwa School in Kiudang, Chung Hwa School in Tutong, Pai Yuek School in Temburong and St Andrew’s School in BSB each received BND2,000. A total of BND10,400 was allocated for four scholarships, providing support to underprivileged students.
The temple also contributed BND2,000 to the Chinese Charitable Association in Kampong Kiudang to aid in the construction of a crematorium centre.
Demonstrating further personal commitment, Lee personally donated BND2,700 as a scholarship for an underprivileged student and an additional BND2,000 to Pusat Ehsan. - Borneo Bulletin/ANN
