KUCHING: The Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) in the Chief Minister’s Department will set up a donation-funded welfare pool for non-Muslim organisations, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Ambas.
The fund can help them carry out their socio-economic activities and meet the welfare needs of non-Islamic houses of worship, he said.
Uggah is the minister in-charge of Unifor.
“At the moment, Unifor strives to get public donations to be channelled to the Religious Welfare Fund because we can’t simply use the allocation of RM30 million allocated by the Chief Minister,” he told reporters after officiating at St Thomas’ House of the Epiphany earth-breaking ceremony.
He also added that with the five per cent tax collected from export of petroleum and gas, he hoped the allocation would be increased.
“We are so fortunate because in Sarawak there is great religious tolerance among the people. Since the establishment of Unifor, we have assisted 77 houses of worship in 2017 and 231 houses of worship last year and we will continue to help other religions in Sarawak”, he said.
Meanwhile, Uggah said that Unifor will also have an Advisory Council whose members will comprise of leaders of various religions.
“This council will have 10 leaders from various religions such as Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Bahai and others.
“The council will discuss religious issues to seek joint solutions so that peace, unity and prosperity in Sarawak can continue,” he said.
At the event, he handed over a cheque for RM7 million for the construction of the House of the Epiphany (Anglican College of Sarawak and Brunei) at St Thomas’ Church here.
The building will have four storeys replacing the old building that was built in 1953.
Also present at the function were directors of Unifor Datuk Dr Ngenang Jangu and Bishop Danald Jute.
