Unifor to disburse more financial aid

MIRI: The Unit For Other Religions (Unifor) will disburse more financial aid to churches, temples and other houses of worship towards the end of this year, said State Legislative Assembly (DUN) deputy speaker Datuk Gerawat Gala.

Unifor has approved a total of 109 projects valued at RM19.1 million this year, he revealed during a fund-raising dinner for the Borneo Evangelical Mission (BEM) church building project in Desa Senadin on Friday.

“For the BEM church building project, the state government through Unifor has approved an allocation of RM300,000,” he announced at the event.

The RM2.3 million church building will be completed in about 18 months.

Gerawat assured that the Sarawak government would continue to assist other religions besides Islam.

“Huge allocations given to Unifor reflect the state government’s commitment toward improving houses of worship of other religions,” he said.

He noted that when Unifor was set up in 2017, the state government allocated RM15 million and the amount was increased to RM20 million the following year.

“This year, Sarawak government allocated RM30 million to Unifor to help build churches, temples and other houses of worship,” Gerawat said.

At the event, he pledged a grant of RM30,000. Transport Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin, who was also present, pledged RM50,000 while Tourism, Arts and Culture Assistant Minister Datuk Sebastian Ting pledged RM20,000.