MIRI: The Sarawak Government has announced a RM20 million allocation to finance the operations of Unit for Other Religions (UNIFOR) this year.
Chief Minister, Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Abang Johari Tun Openg said that the allocation was a commitment by the state government to assisting followers of various religions in the state.
“In Sarawak, we are a family of different religions who can sit and eat together,” he explained during the launch of a special seminar on community and tribal leaders and non-governmental organisations of the Highland Development Agency (HDA) here on Wednesday.
Established last year, the UNIFOR is aimed at formulating policies and regulations as well as providing assistance in the construction of non-Muslim houses of worship in Sarawak.
Commenting on the development of the HDA, he said that the state government intended to develop the agriculture and tourism sector in the constituency.
Meanwhile in Sibu, the people in the P212 parliamentary constituency of Sibu have suffered losses amounting to RM50 million in terms of rural allocation as they were represented by the opposition party for the past two terms.
Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan explained that this was due to the opposition parliamentarian not given the allocation, as compared to the RM5 million allocated annually to those under the Barisan Nasional (BN)-ruled government.
“It’s a pity that for the past two terms, the people of Sibu were represented by the DAP, what we do have are criticisms and talks only, as they do not have any provisions, let alone to implement big projects,” he said in his speech at the ‘Get-together with the Leader’ event held at the residence of Peter Tinggom in Bawang Assan here on Wednesday night. – Bernama
