Vatican City (Fides Service) - Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, has appointed (6 June 2003), National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, Bishop James Chan, emeritus Bishop of Melaka-Johor. Bishop James Chan was born in Selama, diocese of Penang, 26 July 1926. He was ordained a priest on 9 August 1959 and ordained a Bishop of 8 June 1973. Pope John Paul II accepted his resignation from the pastoral government of the diocese of Melaka-Johor on 10 December 2001. (Fides Service 23/6/2003 EM lines 8 Words: 59)