KUCHING: A total of 98 cheques amounting to RM16.35 million were received by 36 representatives of respective state constituencies in the first phase of the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) fund distributions.
The cheques were presented by minister in charge of Unifor, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas in a ceremony held at Wisma Bapa Malaysia in Petra Jaya here, yesterday.
Uggah, who is also Second Finance Minister, pointed out that representatives of all religions were collecting the Unifor cheques for the development of non-Islamic houses of worship, highlighting the state’s unique whole-hearted acceptance of other religions — “We can see Sarawak’s true colours indeed”.
“It is not easy for other states in Malaysia to display this,” he remarked during his speech.
“These cheques are a way to serve the people of all religions and races,” said the Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development.
According to him, the constituency representatives would distribute the funds to their area’s respective religious institutions.
The total distribution for the first phase is RM19.1 mln for 109 requested projects.
Unifor would monitor the progress of these projects to ensure they are completed within the set time frame and cost.
Earlier, the state government had approved an allocation of RM30 mln to be used this year by Unifor.
This was an increased allocation compared to RM20 mln last year for 231 projects and RM15 mln in 2017 for 77 projects.
The funds are intended for the construction, enhancement and repair of houses of worship other than Islam in Sarawak.
