KUCHING: Do not be so negative as to create religious or racial issues out of proportion, urged Bung Bratak Heritage Association (BBHA) chairman Datuk Peter Minos.
He chided Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) Youth for questioning the state government’s rationale in allocating RM70 million for the construction of Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) Complex at Jalan Ong Tiang Swee here.
“Whether it is RM70 million or RM7 million from the state government for the Unifor Complex, PSB Youth should thank the government because that financial support comes from the heart,” he said on Saturday.
“Where else in Malaysia does the government go all out to help a body looking after non-Muslim religious affairs?” he asked.
He said that the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) state government was being very considerate in this matter, showing religious understanding, tolerance and harmony.
He believed that Unifor and representatives from non-Muslim bodies must have discussed at length and agreed on this figure for various valid reasons, with Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg agreeing on it as well.
“What is there for PSB Youth to query and make an issue of the matter?”
Minos applauded the formation of Unifor, a special government body looking after matters of non-Muslim faiths, and pointed out that it had provided funds for churches, temples, and so on.
“For Unifor to get yearly funds from the Sarawak government to help the non-Muslims – this is simply exemplary. Now that Unifor will get RM70 million for its new headquarters, let us feel even more grateful,” he said.
In a statement on Friday, PSB Youth described the Unifor Complex as a ‘waste of money’ unless it served other purposes than solely dealing with non-Islamic affairs and charitable trust.
Despite admiring the chief minister’s liberal approach for other religions, they felt that the money would be better spent by assisting various churches, Chinese temples, and Hindu temples with upgrading works.
