UNIFOR COMPLEX
KUCHING: Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has chastised Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) Youth for questioning the rationale behind RM70 million being granted for the construction of the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) Complex.
He emphasised that the Unifor Complex is a reflection of the state government’s tolerance and respect for all religions to be propagated and assisted in a multireligious state like Sarawak.
“Why is PSB objecting to the proposed Unifor Complex? PSB should be supportive of the state government’s effort instead of running it down,” he said when contacted on Friday.
PSB Youth had said in a statement that the Unifor Complex was a ‘waste of money’ unless it served other purposes than solely dealing with non-Islamic affairs and charitable trust.
Despite admiring Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s liberal approach for other religions, they opined that the money would be better spent by assisting various churches, Chinese temples, and Hindu temples with upgrading works.
Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who is in charge of Unifor, said that Abang Johari had provided the 1.2-hectare site for the complex in addition to a grant of RM70 million for construction.
Uggah described the upcoming complex at Jalan Ong Tiang Swee as another reflection of Abang Johari’s inclusiveness.
