Sarawak approves RM20 million for churches, temples

KUCHING - The Sarawak government via the Unit For Other Religions (Unifor) in the Chief Minister’s Department has approved a RM20 million allocation this year for 226 projects involving the construction and repair of houses of worship in the state.

Unifor, in a statement issued during its cheque presentation for the houses of worship by Deputy Chief Minister Douglas Uggah Embas here today, said RM15.87 million was approved for phase one in May, comprising 206 projects throughout Sarawak.

Another RM3.57 million was recently approved for phase two, consisting of 20 projects, and today eight state assemblymen received cheques for 13 projects approved for their constituencies amounting to RM1.82 million.

These assemblymen will distribute the cheques to the respective religious institutions in their constituencies while cheques for another seven projects amounting to RM1.75 million, which was approved under phase two, had been given to the assemblymen earlier.

According to the statement, the remaining allocation of RM560,000 for 2018 will be for projects under phase three and is expected to be disbursed by the end of this month.

Meanwhile, Uggah in his speech said all religious committees must make sure the approved allocation is used wisely.

He said the assistance of the state assemblymen was needed to help Unifor monitor these projects to ensure that they were being implemented successfully.

“Unifor staff will also be going to the ground to ensure these projects are implemented according to plan,” he said.