MIRI: Women, Early Childhood and Community Well-being Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah launched the state level Keluarga Malaysia Semarak Unity Programme at City Fan here yesterday.
The venue was the fourth for the programme and Fatimah said that Sarawak was honoured to be chosen as it was a symbol of respecting the different races, religions and cultures in the state.
“The programme portrayed an awareness on the importance of unity, be it among family members, community, society or country which has existed for a long time,” she said in her speech at the event.
Fatimah added that she believed the federal government would also want the Sarawak to be a developed state by the year 2030 with a high income.
She disclosed that with the post COVID 19 Development Strategy, Sarawak is moving towards an economy moulded by the development of technology, resources, and the global efforts to combat climate change.
Similarly, she said that the state government has also allocated grants and allocations to non-Muslim groups through UNIFOR or Unit for Other Religions as they also needed the government’s support.
“Since introduced in 2017, UNIFOR has prepared several allocations for the construction or renovation of worship places for the non-Muslim groups, schools and for administration,” she said.
In this context, she said in 2017 some RM15 million has been allocated, 2018 (RM20 million), 2019 (RM30 million), 2020 (RM50 million), 2021 (RM50 million) and in 2022 (RM50 million) totalling RM215 million.
“In my ministry, through the Sarawak Social Welfare Development Council, we have taken the initiative to organise the Community Solidarity Programme (RSK) in helping to make the Keluarga Malaysia aspirations a success.
“The programe was started in 2020 with RM1 million and has expanded in the year 2021 and has covered 34 districts in 2022,” she said describing one of her ministry’s programmes.
She hoped that today’s event would bring meaning to the people to appreciate the country’s unity and harmony.
