KUCHING: Over 280 participants attended the 20th International Catholic Committee of Nurses and Medico-Social Assistants (CICIAMS) World Congress at Riverside Majestic Hotel here yesterday.
The congress comprised 132 participants from Malaysia and 149 international participants from 18 different countries, namely South Africa, Nigeria, Mexico, Kenya, India and more.
Speaking during the opening of the congress, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said that Sarawak was the only State in Malaysia to have a formal government agency looking after the non-Muslims.
“On 26 May 2017, the State government established the Unit for Other Religions or UNIFOR in the Chief Minister’s Office and directly under my portfolio.
“This unit looks after the affairs of the non Islamic religious bodies in Sarawak which include Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs, Bahai and Taoist,” he said.
He added that the State government has committed a yearly financial allocation to UNIFOR for the construction and repair of Houses of Worship and other infrastructure facilities for the non Islamic religious bodies.
“For the congress, the State government has allocated a total of RM40,000 to the congress committee to hold the event,” he said.
He added that Sarawak is a model state in Malaysia where people of different religious beliefs live peacefully and harmoniously among themselves.
“This harmonious surroundings and freedom have been strongly endorsed by the state leaders including the present Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Dr Abang Johari Tun Openg who practises the inclusive policy to all,” he pointed out.
Meanwhile, the Archbishop of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching Simon Poh said that the congress focuses on the issues affecting children, youth and elderly in the society.
“These are also the concerns of our respective countries and the world.
“I am confident that this congress will provide the vision and tool for us to educate, sustain life and promote all that will enable each person to be fully human – living our life with meaning and purpose,” he pointed out.
