Rayong (seventh left) and Danald (sixth left) join others in cutting cakes to mark the occasion.
KUCHING: Religious extremists have no place in Sarawak and no one should have the view that their religion is better than others, says Engkilili assemblyman Dr Johnichal Rayong Ngipa.
“Religious tolerance has always been deeply ingrained in all of us and religious differences and beliefs should never mean that there is a dividing line between the people living in the country.
“The legality of religion in Sarawak and Malaysia is generally guaranteed by the Federal Constitution, allowing all individuals to practise religious practices as long as they do not go beyond the law,” he said during an event in Skim Skrang, Engkilili recently.
The event was held to celebrate the elevation of St Benedict’s Anglican Church to a parish which was also attended by Bishop of the Anglican Church in Sarawak and Brunei, the Right Revd Datuk Danald Jute.
Rayong, who is also Parti Sarawak Bersatu Youth chief, said as an assemblyman, he has always made it a point to provide funding to all houses of worship in and outside his constituency, to help them upgrade their facilities and premises.
“It is not only my own religion that I help as I believe in helping all religions in the state, and I chose to help by providing funds for upgrading places of worship because these are houses of God.
“We must remember that the house of God should be beautiful, clean and comfortable for religious activities as any church, temple or mosque is the centre of local, economic and social cultural development in line with the teachings of God,” he said.
Commenting on the newly-elevated St Benedict’s Parish, Rayong said the transformation of the church means that its role and responsibilities are growing not only around the Skim Skrang, but also in the Engkilili constituency.
“With St Benedict’s now a parish, it can now ease the responsibility of St Augustine’s Anglican Church in Betong. The people of Skim Skrang must also feel honoured that their church is gifted with this responsibility as a parish,” he said.
He later announced a cash grant of RM20,000 for the purchase of a vehicle for the use of the parish.