Diakonia 2025 Volume 2
Pan Malaysia OA Mission: Work among the orang asli – Then & Now: A Journey of Hope from Shadow to Light
Chris Tay, Bandar Puchong Gospel Centre
In 1985, the mission ministry at Petaling Jaya Gospel Hall (PJGH) officially took over the Orang Asli (OA) work. But for the pioneers and for our retiring PMOAM chairman, Ong Hock Chye, the journey started even earlier.
He remembers a time when sharing hope among the OA communities was truly a walk into the great unknown. I’m told he often jokes that back then, he was the original Waze, relying on his gut and a whole lot of prayer to find the way! He often reminisces about those early years, speaking of a time when life was much simpler, yet infinitely harder for the Orang Asli.
These were the days before highways or handphones. For the Orang Asli, that period meant more than just a lack of technology; it was an era where their communities were marginalized and often disconnected from the rest of the country.
This evocative photo, taken sometime in the 1970s, captures a moment in front of the headman Bah Cherbah’s humble home at Batu 6, Tapah. Before their first church building was completed in 1985, this very house served as the vibrant hub for the congregation, a place of worship and fellowship from around 1974.
We stepped into this work facing steep cultural barriers. Progress was measured one small, prayerful step at a time, but through it all, our faith in God was our guiding light. PMOAM built its foundation on an unwavering belief in the Great Commission, a deep conviction that Christ’s love could transform lives, and the selfless example of Jesus Christ Himself.
Today, in 2025, we are humbled as we stand in the light of God’s faithfulness. The handful of churches we began with in Perak and Pahang have grown into a remarkable testament to His work. Over four decades, we’ve witnessed countless lives transformed and vibrant churches planted. We now work with 37 churches in Pahang and 18 in Perak, supported by a dedicated and growing team of OA workers: 19 in Perak and 11 in Pahang. It is clear that this wasn’t just our efforts; it is the tangible work of the Holy Spirit. We’re also incredibly grateful for the assemblies and other churches who partner with SSIOA to help some of the OA churches.
Yet, our journey is far from over. While the infrastructure and facilities have changed dramatically over the past 40 years, the fundamental challenges remain. We continue to face the pressures of a changing world, but the core biblical messages of boldness, selfless service, and growing strong in fellowship are our anchors. We are reminded that just as God went before Joshua to do “wonders in their midst,” He continues to go before us today. The work of spreading hope continues, not in the absence of challenges, but with the courage and strength to face them together.
PMOAM New Leadership Team (Effective 1/10/2025)
We are delighted to announce the new leadership team who will lead us into this next season:
- Chairman: Chang Yow Looi
- Deputy Chairman: Dennis Lee
- Treasurer: Chris Tay
- Coordinator – Perak: Chong Chee Wai
- Coordinator – Pahang: Charles Ng
- Advisor: Ong Hock Chye
Partner with Us
Pan Malaysia OA Mission Public Bank Berhad
Account number: 3192916101
Please email transfer advice to pmoam1@gmail.com or WhatsApp to
+60123962232 / +60143386141.
For further information, you can contact:
- Ong Hock Chye: +60122221762
- Chris Tay: +60123962232
