Taib leading the Maulidur Rasul procession, accompanied by Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Dept (Islamic Affairs) Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman (second left).
State to finance welfare programmes through welfare funds to be set up within the next three months
MUKAH: The state government will set up three major welfare funds within the next three months to finance its various new welfare programmes and initiatives.
Disclosing this at the state-level Maulidur Rasul celebration at the Pehin Setia Raja Square here yesterday, Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud pledged that he would ensure the funds would be formed before he retires.
“Before I retire, we will create this fund so that we can have a channel to help the needy. This is part of our Islamic practice to help one another.”
Taib said Sarawak was expected to undergo greater industrialisation through its regional development corridor of SCORE (Sarawak Corridor of Renewal Energy), and that there would be much rural/urban migration in search of better lives.
“The migrants will initially face numerous challenges and problems in their new environment, like the lack of job opportunities, income and housing, education for children and even hunger.
“It is our responsibility to help them, whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims.
“Government efforts alone will not be enough. We also need more young people who are compassionate and who have the time to come forward voluntarily to do a lot of welfare work for the future,” he said.
Taib said society should emulate the caring qualities of Prophet Muhammad and used them as a guideline to help the less fortunate in a fast-changing society.
The chief minister also instructed Islamic orphanages in the state to open their doors to non-Muslims.
“We should not differentiate between Muslims and non-Muslims. When we solicit for donations for our orphanages, the non-Muslims also help. It is, after all, taught and advocated in all religions for the fortunate to help the less fortunate,” he said.
The chief minister, accompanied by cabinet ministers, assistant ministers and local dignitaries, later led more than 6,000 people from 175 contingents in a procession along major roads here over a distance of 3.5 kilometres.
A unique feature of the colourful procession was the participation by 13 non-Muslim contingents comprising the local people and associations. – Bernama