Dennis (third right) accepts the mock cheque for RM1 million from Uggah, witnessed by (from left) Jaul and Ali.
KUCHING: The Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) serves not only to address issues and problems faced by non-Muslim Sarawakians, but also to assist religious bodies in setting up their respective centres of worship.
According to Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, the unit would also help in acquiring land for the setting up of these centres.
“One of tasks of Unifor is to address issues surrounding the application for land for buildings meant for religious activities. There are still lots of (religious) bodies that are without land. We will assist these applicants and we will work very closely with the Land and Survey Department,” he spoke at the appreciation, farewell and welcoming dinner of St Francis Church Kota Samarahan at a hotel here on Sunday.
Moreover, Uggah – also the Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development – said there would be a mechanism to ensure that the applicants would not experience problems over the land that they are applying for or is given by the state, in the future.
In this regard, he reminded the bodies receiving funds from the state government – formerly known as the ‘Non-Islamic Affairs Unit’ – to be accountable and transparent with their spending.
“Make sure funds are used wisely. We need to be accountable for every sen spent,” he advised, adding that Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg was generous enough to allocate RM15 million for Unifor fund for this year alone.
Uggah also strove to rectify the claim about Unifor being a ‘government propaganda’ when it was announced last year.
“There were many sceptics who regarded it as just a political propaganda and rhetoric of former chief minister (late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem). However, the state takes this unit seriously; it is one that provides services to religions other than Islam in Sarawak – the only state in the nation having such a unit,” he said, adding that Abang Johari – like Adenan – wishes to be the ‘Chief Minister for Sarawakians’.
Adding on, Uggah assured all that Unifor head Datu Dr Ngenang Janggu would be going to the ground to gain feedback and first-hand knowledge on several issues, of which the unit would do its best to address.
On issues surrounding the native customary rights (NCR) land – namely the Pemakai Menoa (territorial/communal domain) and Pulau Galau (forest reserves) – Uggah said no issue could be resolved through street protests and publication of media statements.
He said his special committee on NCR land is always open to discussions and deliberations, striving to finalise the details without compromising racial harmony.
“We must make sure that racial-religious harmony would remain as it is today, or get better. All of us – political, religious and community leaders alike – must play our part. We have been a model state in Malaysia in terms of harmony and unity. We even have a chief minister who stands up and says that we can all use the term ‘Allah’ in our prayers,” said Uggah.
At the event, Uggah announced the government allocation of RM1 million for the building fund of the new St Francis Anglican Church building in Kota Samarahan.
He also announced the presentation of funds to some of the 13 chapels under the jurisdiction of St Francis Anglican Church – among them were St Barnabas Sampun Asajaya which received RM70,000, St Phillip Pelaie Muara Tuang (RM50,000), All Saints Semawang (RM80,000), St James Sungai Batu Muara Tuang (RM100,000) and St Peter Merdang Lumut Muara Tuang (RM200,000).
Meanwhile, Uggah hailed the presence of Stakan assemblyman Datuk Seri Mohammad Ali Mahmud at the event as signifying the high level of religious tolerance and acceptance in Sarawak. The deputy chief minister also commended Ali for playing a major part in discussing the allocations for the church and its chapels.
When contacted yesterday to clarify on the church project, St Francis Anglican Church priest-in-charge Rev Dennis Gimang said the building fund was still short by RM2 million.
Dennis said on top of the RM1 million announced by Uggah on Sunday, the church would also be receiving a government grant of RM2 million, which would be disbursed in stages.
It is estimated that the cost of the project is RM5 million.
“We hope that the new church building would be ready by Christmas 2019,” he said.
The Sunday night event was also attended by Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development permanent secretary Datu Jaul Sameon, St Francis Anglican Church outgoing priest Rev Harold Jin Ahit and incoming priest Rev Moses Jakir.
Moses will take over from Harold, who has been promoted to be the priest-in-charge of St Mark Church in Limbang.