KUCHING: The Sarawak government has promised to help St Thomas Cathedral to look for funds for the construction of its House of Epiphany.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said he, together with State Secretary Datuk Jaul Samion and other elected representatives, would help to raise RM1.5 million in the next one to two years for the new RM10.5 mln five-storey building.
“Last year, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg had given a RM7 mln grant.
“Therefore, we (Sarawak government) will continue to do our best to assist you. And I hope the church could also raise the remaining fund,” he said during the 29th Biennial Diocesan Synod and the New House of The Epiphany fundraising dinner here, Sunday night.
He then said that was why Unit For Other Religions (Unifor) was formed as it served to look after and help various religions, including in the renovation or construction of buildings, and activities.
The Anglican Church’s present Diocesan Theological College, opened in 1953 and having served the diocese for over half a century, is now in despair.
Thus, there is a need for the diocese to construct a new building, The House of Epiphany.
The new building, located in Jalan McDougal, will have a chapel, lecture room, seminar rooms, library, administrative and staff officers, Ministry Offices, a mini museum and archive, staff and student accommodations and a cafeteria and youth meeting space on the ground floor.
Uggah, who is also minister in charge for Unifor, announced a grant of RM400,000 for the church to organise a number of activities next year.
This includes a fellowship gathering for 2,020 youths here next year. RM100,000 was given earlier in July.
“I hope during the synod, you could give us (Unifor) feedback to enable us to improve our services. Our purpose is to give the best service so that other religions other than Islam can be better served and supported,” he said.
“Now Unifor functions to assist in the setting up and renovation of worship buildings. With that, we will also be setting up a Unifor Board of Trustee and that will help to finance activities organised by the various religious groups.”
He added the state government had allocated RM30 mln to Unifor this year, and other grants totaling RM27.5 mln to help various non-Islamic faiths in the state.
The Chief Minister, he said, had allocated a 1.214-hectare site in Jalan Ong Tiang Swee for the construction of the Unifor office.
Meanwhile, Anglican Bishop of Sarawak and Brunei, the Right Reverend Danald Jute expressed his appreciation to the state government for looking into the church’s needs.
“With the new building, the church wants to further empower its members be they the youths, men and the women in the ministry.”
