Dennis (seated, second right) and Dr Abdul Rahman (third right) in a group photo with Long Lama folk after the event.
LONG LAMA, Baram: Houses of worship in Telang Usan need to be upgraded to meet the increasing needs of their respective worshippers, says its assemblyman Dennis Ngau.
He said as the district continues to develop, more people of different religious backgrounds will either work or live in Telang Usan.
“Although the majority of Telang Usan folk are Christians of various denominations, the concept of religious freedom is alive here and will continue to flourish.
“With rapid development, we anticipate more and more people of different backgrounds and religious beliefs will make Telang Usan as their work or permanent living place, hence the need to upgrade or improve places of worship here to meet their needs,” he said.
Speaking at the launching of ‘Program Kampung Angkat Saudara Kita’ at Masjid Darussalam here recently, the assemblyman praised the Muslim community here, many of whom are civil servants, for working hard to ensure they have a proper and conducive place to pray and to hold religious activities.
He also said the event, which was attended by Christians and Buddhists, showed the strong bond between those of different faiths.
“This event is a clear manifestation of how we respect our fellow Telang Usan brothers and sisters, in that we from the Christian and Buddhist communities are also invited to attend.”
The event was jointly organised by Sarawak Islamic Affairs Department (Jais), Tabung Baitulmal Sarawak, Masjid Darussalam and Masjid Darul Ehsan in Miri.
It was officiated by Assistant Minister of Rural Electricity Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, who presented RM200 in compassionate aid (wang ehsan) from Tabung Baitulmal Sarawak to 109 recipients from several areas and villages.
Jais director Khalidi Ibrahim, Tabung Baitulmal Sarawak Miri head Marini Juraibi, Masjid Darussalam chairman Dato Abu Bakar Abdullah and Kapitan Yeo Kee Siang were among those present.