Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas (front second left) in a photo together with Datuk Lee Kim Shin (left) Dato Sri
Hajah Fatimah Abdullah (second right), Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi (right), and Dato’ Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew (third
right) and others after the cheque handing over ceremony yesterday. PHOTO: AHMAD ISKANDAR
KUCHING: A total of 77 applications from various religious institutions in Sarawak that had been approved received funds totalling RM15 million during a cheque handover yesterday. The cheque handing over of contribution from the state government was officiated at by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas was given the honour to hand over the cheques to recipients of the contributions at a handover ceremony held at the State Legislative Assembly hall here.
The 77 applications comprise 65 applications from various denominations of Christianity, nine Buddhist and three Sikh institutions.
According to Uggah, the applications for this year are for various purposes such as construction of new religious buildings, upgrading and repair works whereby the funds were handed over to the assemblymen of various constituencies in the state.
“We also have received various applications that are now being processed for next year. “I must record our appreciation to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Abang Johari Tun Openg for approving the RM15 million allocation this year,” he said.
Uggah also said that now Unit For Other Religions (UNIFOR) is also processing applications for lands for the construction of new churches and temples.
“We also want to thank the state government for allocating three acres of state land for UNIFOR office in Kuching,” he pointed out. He said all this reflected the policy of CM that he is a chief minister who is looking after each and everyone, irrespective of race and religion which is very welcomed by everyone especially in Sarawak.
”Sarawak has a very strong racial and religious harmony and this type of programme will further enhance and strengthen the harmony and unity among the various religious groups and races in Sarawak because unity and religious harmony is very important factor to ensure we can continue to develop especially in this era of digital economy.
“We need to make sure we are all united to work together to see that the plan to develop Sarawak through digital economy will be successful so that there will be no distraction,” he added.
To date, a total of 82 new applications have been received from various religious institutions throughout Sarawak for the purpose of building, upgrading and repairing the religious institutions. These are for consideration in 2018, he pointed out.
