KUCHING: The Sarawak Government, through the Unit for Other Religions (UNIFOR), has allocated RM20 million to upgrade the infrastructure of 129 mission schools across the state.

Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the assistance was part of the state government’s ongoing efforts to help mission schools address maintenance needs and improve educational facilities.

“This assistance has certainly made a significant difference to mission schools, churches and places of worship.

“Before this programme was introduced, they faced many difficulties in maintaining churches, building new churches and carrying out similar work at schools.

“Therefore, on behalf of all recipients of assistance today, we would like to thank the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Government and Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg for the assistance provided,” he said.

He was speaking to reporters after a cheque presentation ceremony for assistance to mission schools at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) complex here on Friday.

Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, who is also the minister in charge of UNIFOR, said the first phase of this year’s disbursement involved six church bodies.

The Anglican Diocese of Kuching received RM7,751,900, followed by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching with RM4,961,216 and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sibu with RM3,565,874.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Miri received RM1,085,266, while the Sarawak Iban Methodist Annual Conference (SIAC) received RM1,240,402 and the Sarawak Chinese Methodist Annual Conference (SCAC) received RM1,395,342.

The mission school authorities were represented by their respective advisers, namely Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, representing the Anglican Diocese of Kuching, Deputy Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Dr Penguang Manggil, representing the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching, and Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan, representing the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sibu.

Also representing the school authorities were Sarawak Minister for Transport Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Miri, Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Native Law and Customs) Datuk Jefferson Jamit Unyat for SIAC, and Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom for SCAC. -UKASnews

Prepared by: Nur Nabilla
Photo: Muhd Zulfadli
Translator: Uilson Ng