CCC Cost Continues to SOAR

First, they told the members that the Calvary Convention Centre (CCC) will cost RM50 million to build, excluding land cost of RM35 million. 

Then, a few months later, Ken Yeang, the freemason architect presented to the members his spaceship-looking design complete with cherubim-winged roofs that can be opened at the touch of a button, a 5,000-seat auditorium with sunken orchestra pit and revolving stage, fully-fitted air-conditioned classrooms, office space, chapels, recreation halls, gym, dining halls, luxurious lounges and a huge basement carpark. All these for only RM80 million, Mr Yeang said.

But PG (Prince Guneratnam) assured the members that he can slash the costs down to RM50 million. The members were elated with PG’s assurance. Some even joked that if Calvary Church missed the rapture when Jesus comes, the members can hop onto the spaceship CCC and fly after Jesus.

Then, a little while later, they said that Mr Ken Yeang made a mistake in his arithmetic and that it will cost RM150 million instead to build the CCC. The members cast suspicious looks at each other, threw caution to the wind and took it in stride. PG asked the members at that specially-convened EGM to stand and praise the Lord. The members stood up and PG calmly declared the motion carried!

Then, a little while later, they said that costs have escalated and the RM150 million can only get them the auditorium with a lower quality roof and with the cherubim wings clipped off and the rest of the facilities as promised earlier but un-useable as they will be just “shell and core” meaning just totally bare ugly concrete rooms which will require further millions of ringgit to complete and fit-out later. They called it value-engineering. To the lay-man, it’s common sense cost-cutting! The members (the smarter ones, at least) realized that they had been fooled but of course, they were reminded to “touch not God’s anointed”.


And then at the recent EGM on 21 May 2011, they told the remnant members and the die-hard PG supporters (the smarter ones have left or have been sacked, remember?) that the construction costs has escalated further. It would now cost RM200 million to have the auditorium with lower quality roof and with the cherubim wings still clipped off and the rest of the facilities as promised earlier, still “shell and core” but now they will come with some wiring and basic electrical installations. 


The important thing is that the rooms and halls may now be useable and all they need is to splash some paint on the walls so that it won’t look so dull. All these just for RM200 million and it is now called Phase 1. Phase 2 will be the completion and fit-out of all the “shell and core” facilities and whatever left undone. That will, of course, cost some more tens of millions but that’s for another day and probably for another Senior Pastor to tackle.

Another Senior Pastor? You mean, PG won’t be hanging around for long? Aiyoyo…. you’re so blur! The members may be foolish but he is not!


As soon as PG has had his glory hosting the Pentecostal World Conference in CCC in August 2013, he will surely and most definitely pack up and sail into the sunset to fulfill his calling to be an evangelist. He has told the members before of his calling, remember? He’s called to be an evangelist, he’s not called to stick around to clean up the financial mess in Calvary Church. No, that’s Pastor Peter’s job!


Coming soon: The facts and figures presented at the recent EGM