KUCHING: Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian welcomes any plan to set up a charitable trust within the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor), describing it as “a natural evolvement”.
The Local Government and Housing Minister said former chief minister, the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem or Tok Nan to Sarawakians, started the policy of helping non-Islamic bodies.
“It (policy) started by assisting other religions in their applications for state land and funding to assist with building of places of worship.
“The policy is continued by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg who established a dedicated unit in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) to be responsible for issues facing other religions that need government attention.”
Dr Sim, who is Sarawak United People’s Party president, said in this respect, what the state government had done so far was in line with the fact that Sarawak is the only state in Malaysia without any official religion.
He said Sarawak government believes in fairness to all religions, one aspect that makes Sarawak truly unique.
“A charitable trust within Unifor therefore is a natural evolvement towards taking care of the social welfare of the members of other religions in the state,” Dr Sim said.
