The St Thomas Mar Thoma church – a 70-year-old Protestant church – is grateful to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his administration for helping to renew its land lease recently, thus giving its local congregation of 430 families the privilege to maintain their current premises for the next 30 years.

The church’s priest, Reverend Philip Simon, was all smiles after a meeting with Prime Minister Najib at the Putra World Trade Centre today, agreeing with church committee members and reporters that the session was "beneficial" and "generous".

“We have been here for over seven decades and the government was so gracious to us (by) protecting us in our welfare and we are extremely grateful,’ the reverend told reporters.

“The PM was very kind to us in our bid. (For) the present church land, the government has given (a) long lease,” Philip added.