Uggah (third right) being briefed on Unifor’s new office. Also seen are Dr Sim (second left), Sagah (fourth left), Liwan (right), Ngenang (second right) and Poh (third left). – Photo by Chimon Upon
KUCHING: The state government has approved an allocation of RM30 million for the Unit For Other Religions (Unifor) under the Chief Minister’s Department.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who announced this, said the allocation is the largest ever to be given to the unit which looks after the affairs of other religions (other than Islam) in the state.
“Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has approved RM30 million for Unifor in the State Budget 2019, which I missed out when delivering my winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Sitting yesterday.
“In 2017, the allocation for the unit was RM15 million while in 2018 the allocation was RM20 million and today, we have approved RM30 million for Unifor,” he said at the blessing ceremony for Unifor’s new office at Wisma Satok here today.
Uggah, who is the minister in charge of non-Islamic affairs, expressed his optimism that once the state imposes its five per cent sales tax on petroleum products next year, a bigger grant may also be allocated for the unit.
“After the imposition of the sales tax on petroleum products, maybe we can ask for RM50 million allocation in the year 2020,” he remarked.
Uggah, alongside Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, Assistant Minister of Native Land Development Datuk Roland Sagan Wee Inn and Assistant Minister of Water Supply Datuk Liwan Lagang attended the blessing ceremony of the new office which was conducted by Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuching Archdiocese Most Reverend Simon Poh.
Unifor, which previously shared office with the Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development at Masja Building, officially moved to its new office at Level 4, Wisma Satok on November 1 on the temporary basis of three year tenure while waiting for the construction of the Unifor Complex at Jalan Ong Tiang Swee here to be completed.
The new office signifies Unifor’s existence and will continue to assist on the well-brings of the various religious bodies apart from Islam.
Also present was Unifor director Datu Dr Ngenang Jangu.