KUCHING: Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian hopes that the chapel built at the Sarawak Heart Centre (PJS) and the proposed interfaith prayer centre at the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) will serve as a model for other government hospitals to set up similar interfaith prayer rooms in their medical facilities.
He said with such interfaith prayer rooms, it could provide visitors and patients with a place to pray in their times of need.
“I recently had the honour of presenting an RM600,000 cheque to SGH, a federal government agency, on behalf of the Sarawak government and the Unit for Other Religions (UNIFOR), so that they may establish an interfaith prayer centre.
“During a stressful time, the family can get together at a place where they can pray according to their own faith,” he said in a video message.
Dr Sim, who is also the Minister of Public Health, Local Government and Housing, said prior to that, Malaysia’s first Catholic chapel was also being built at PJS.
“It (the chapel) provides tremendous comfort at times of distress for the family, patient, and their friends to come together.
“Hopefully, the PJS and SGH will provide an example for all other hospitals in Sarawak to implement similar interfaith prayer rooms for the patients and visitors,” he said.
Earlier in March of this year, it saw the opening of the Sacred Heart Chapel at the PJS in Kota Samarahan.
Construction of the chapel, which commenced in April 2021, was already completed in December last year.
