Abang Johari (third right), accompanied by Danald, greets members of the public coming to the open house.
KUCHING: Sarawak has a unique culture and its people from all the major religions peacefully co-exist together.
Chief Minister Datuk Patingi Abang Johari Tun Openg said this during a Christmas visit to the Anglican Bishop of Sarawak and Brunei, the Right Reverend Danald Jute at his official residence, the Bishop House, here on Tuesday.
Abang Johari said only Sarawakians truly understood the culture of Sarawak, and his Gabungan Parti Sarawak-led government stands ready to defend it (culture).
“I will defend this culture at all cost, and with my approach I am sure Sarawak will move forward,” he said, while hoping that Sarawak would be the best developed region in Malaysia by 2030.
He believed that all the world’s major religions such as Christianity, Islam and Buddhism promote good values and good teaching among their followers, which would contribute directly and indirectly to the peace and harmony.
“With that (peace), we are able to contribute to the betterment of mankind.”
He also said he would continue to support Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, who is also the minister-in-charge of Unit for Other Religions (Unifor), with whatever assistance the Sarawak government could give to help.
“Former chief minister Pehin Sri Adenan Satem started this interfaith understanding and I continue it with the formation of Unifor,”
He shared that a piece of land in the vicinity of major cultural and religious institutions, had been approved for the construction of the Unifor building.
“To the Hindus, I have given them assistance to upgrade their temple, while the Sikhs have been given land to expand their temple ground.”
Abang Johari urged the people of Sarawak to always promote interfaith understanding and work together for the benefits of the state and its people.
“On behalf of my colleagues, we wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.”
Danald, meanwhile, applauded the Sarawak government for setting up Unifor, the only such organisation in the country of its kind, and said the church would continue to work closely with it (Unifor).
“We are one of the largest benefactors of Unifor assistance, and for this I say ‘thank you so much,” he said.
He added that the continued support from the Sarawak government was crucial to allow the church to serve its flock, and also appealed to the government for assistance in the redevelopment plan of their House of Epiphany Theological College here.
The chief minister’s wife Datin Patinggi Dato Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Bujang, Uggah, Minister of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah and Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah were also present during the visit.