Lee (front, fourth right) presents the cheque for RM50,000 to Andrew, who represents BEM Senadin.
MIRI: The increase in annual allocation for Unit For Other Religions (Unifor) signifies the Sarawak government’s concern for the non-Muslim communities.
The state government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, has allocated RM50 million to the unit – an increase over the RM30 million slated for last year, says Minister of Transport Datuk Lee Kim Shin.
Established in 2017, Unifor was initially provided with an allocation of RM15 million – the amount was increased to RM20 million in 2018.
“Our government is caring. It wants to see other religions be registered and given assistance,” he said in his speech prior to the presentation of a RM50,000 grant to the Borneo Evangelical Mission (BEM) Church Senadin yesterday.
BEM Senadin chairman Andrew Mering was present to receive the cheque from Lee, who is Senadin assemblyman.
According to the minister, the Unifor allocation would enable non-Muslim communities to upgrade their respective centres of worship, and to carry out religious activities as well as the non-religious ones meant to strengthen the spirit of unity among Sarawakians.
“The goal is we want to promote peace and harmony among the people so that our society would experience less disputes and crime rates.”
Lee also stressed about the importance of spiritual teaching, the right to believe in God and also the key principle of generally all religions, namely for mankind to be good to one another.
“We must respect each other’s religions.
“It is important for us to never be influenced by the negative influences whether from the inside or outside.”
Meanwhile, Lee announced that the works for the RM2.3-million BEM Senadin Church project would commence in the middle of this year.
Earlier, Lee handed over a cheque for RM5,000 to Rudy Mat, the Sub-Deacon Men Fellowship chairman of The Church of Good Shepherd in Lutong.