(Pix above : Uggah presenting grant cheques to Balai Ringin State Assemblyman, Datuk Snowdan Lawan.)
KUCHING, 30 Oct: The Sarawak Government yesterday handed over grants amounting to RM15 million to 123 mission schools statewide.
Through the Unit For Other Religions (UNIFOR) under the Chief Minister’s Office, it also distributed additional grants of RM7 million to 55 different non-Islamic houses of worship.
Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who is the Minister-in-Charge of UNIFOR, gave away all these grants to State Assemblymen or their representatives who received them on behalf of the Catholic, Anglican and Methodist schools as well as the various houses of worship at his office.
Speaking after the function, he said the grants again reflected the inclusive policy of the State Government under Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).
Uggah said the Chief Minister, Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, had allocated a sum of RM50 million for the year 2021 to UNIFOR to implement its entrusted tasks.
Touching on the initial RM15 million grants given to mission schools, he said this was the first time it was provided for such schools.
Uggah added that mission schools could look forward to more such grants in the future.
He said the State Government too had set aside another sum of RM5 million to assist the various houses of worship whose weekly collections had been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is to meet their operation costs and other expenses. We will distribute this fund soon,” said Uggah.
Uggah expressed his deep appreciation to the Chief Minister for his great concern, generosity and thoughtfulness towards mission schools and non-Islamic houses of worship. – TVS
