KULIM: The wooden tablet bearing the Chinese characters for “FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE” saved from the abandoned heritage Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Pagar Tras stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of the Hakka Catholic Community. United in faith with their Missions Estrangeres de Paris (MEP) priests, Fr. Jean Francois Allard and Fr. Francois Terrien, they built the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1882 at Pagar Tras, Sg. Lembu, Bukit Mertajam, Penang. The community through the years have spread to Machang Bubuk, Kulim, Junjung, Bukit Mertajam, Berapit, Permatang Tinggi and Butterworth.
This church, often referred to as the “Notre Dame in the Jungle” was constructed in a Gothic style reminiscent of its namesake in Paris, France. In 1948 due to the communist insurgency, the church was abandoned and a new church with the same name was built in Kulim town. Adjacent to the church, there is a cemetery with the tombs of two parish priests: Fr. Marcel Selier MEP who was buried there according to his last wishes, and Fr. Barnabas Gao.
A three-part collaborative Workshop on Pagar Tras History & Heritage was conducted by Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Think City and the Diocese of Penang. Cardinal Sebastian Francis officiated the closing ceremony of the final workshop on 22 February 2025 at the new Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (SHJ) in Kulim town.
Cardinal Sebastian expressed his thanks to the project leader, Prof. Dr. Stephen Chia of USM, Vicar General Msgr. Henry Rajoo, the parish priest of SHJ, Mr. Kishore Ramdas Program Manager for Seberang Jaya of Think City, Mr. Ong Zhan Hao, representing the Penang State Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy (PETACE), Mr. Clement Liang, President of Penang Heritage Trust, Mr. Francis Chen, Chair of Penang Diocese Heritage Conservation Committee, former Adun of Kulim, YB Yeo Keng Chuan, committee members, resource persons and Friends of Pagar Tras, whose collective efforts have ensured the success of this project.
In 2021, the Diocese of Penang collaborated with PETACE and embarked on a project themed “On 100 Year Trail – Pagar Tras”. This initiative aims to conserve the ruins of Pagar Tras Church, transforming it into a prominent tourist attraction, particularly for mainland Penang. The first phase of the project has been successfully completed, including soil analysis and the reinforcement of the existing church wall with steel girders to prevent its collapse. The Diocese of Penang envisions promoting the Pagar Tras site as a historical, tourist and pilgrimage center. In addition to landscaping work, the Diocese plans to construct a building that will house a gallery for artifacts, an administrative office, caretaker’s room, a cafe and restrooms.
Cardinal Sebastian remarked that 143 years later, we honor the memory, history and heritage of Pagar Tras Church through this workshop. The signboard inscribed with the characters “FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE” holds a special place in our hearts. This year, the Universal Catholic Church celebrates the Jubilee Year of Hope, reminding all present that ‘Hope does not Disappoint’.
Prof. Dr. Stephen Chia emphasized that this initiative aims to foster community pride, raise awareness and engage the public in the history and heritage of the Pagar Tras Church. Kishore Ramdass expressed Think City’s congratulations on the successful workshop, highlighting how it fostered community interaction and voicing hopes for a book and video documenting the project. Clement Liang, underscored the importance of safeguarding this significant heritage site as an integral part of Penang’s history. YB Yeo who grew up in Sg. Lembu, shared that since 2015 he has been advocating for the State to develop this iconic site and expressed hope that the restoration project will be a success.
Msgr. Henry Rajoo guided all participants through a viewing and providing an engaging explanation of the Pagar Tras artifacts, stained glass, statues, sacred liturgical items preserved at Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Kulim. Francis Chen noted that the sacred relics of the Pagar Tras church now housed at the SHJ Kulim is authenticated by a document in Latin given in Paris, dated 27th April 1900.
Cardinal Sebastian exhorted everyone to continue honoring the legacy of those who came before us by sharing their stories with future generations. Together, we can ensure their memories live on and the spirit of hope remains strong in our hearts.
By Christopher Kushi
