SIBU: The Unit for Other Religions (UNIFOR) has expanded its role to help in restoring traditional graves in rural areas, said Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.
The Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development (MFICORD) said most of these traditional graves are in an unmanaged and frightening state, especially the Iban community’s traditional graveyards.
“UNIFOR, under the care of the Deputy Premier of Sarawak Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, has agreed to extend assistance to the followers of traditional religions including their cemeteries so that they look neater and more comfortable.
“Even though we now have sophisticated cemeteries such as the Nirvana Memorial Park and so on, traditional cemeteries must be restored,” he said.
He said this at a media conference after presenting UNIFOR cheques to seven missionary schools from Sibu, Meradong, and Sarikei areas at the Sibu Divisional Agriculture Office, today(Feb 17).
Dr Rundi, who is also the Kemena assemblyman, is responsible for UNIFOR in the central region.
He stressed that UNIFOR is committed to ensure that its assistance can cover all levels of the society.
“The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government will help everyone by giving opportunities to small churches to submit applications from UNIFOR,” he stressed.
On the event, Dr Rundi noted that a total sum of RM826,770 was presented to the seven schools concerned based on their previous requests.
Touching on aid to missionary schools, he said, UNIFOR also assists schools in need in terms of rehabilitation, maintenance, provision of ICT tools and related equipment to provide comfort to students, especially in rural areas.
Also present were Pakan assemblyman Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom, Sarawak State Agriculture Department director Dominic Chunggat and Sibu Divisional Deputy Resident Christopher Ranggau Unting.
