KUCHING: Non-Islamic houses of worship and religious organisations in Sarawak, which benefit from financial aid disbursed by the Unit For Other Religions (UNIFOR), have been asked to assess the agency’s performance.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who is its minister in charge, said such an assessment would allow the three-year-old body to further improve itself.
"Our objective is after all to give you the best services. But we need feedback, bouquets and brickbats... for us to move forward," he said.
Uggah said this at the 29th Biennial Diocesan Synod-Cum-the New House of The Epiphany Fund Raising dinner here, last night.
"We might not have been able to address issues in the most appropriate ways, so give us your feedback for us to improve," he added.
Uggah assured non-Muslim associations that UNIFOR will continue to look into issues such as financing the construction or renovation of churches, temples and chapels; or securing sites for new ones.
"We are also helping to look for new graveyards as well," he said.
The state government allocated RM15 million to UNIFOR in 2017, RM20 million in 2018 and RM30 million this year.
"We hope to bid for (a bigger) allocation next year, as the state now has extra income from the Petroleum Products Sale Tax," Uggah said.
Besides the annual allocation, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Abang Openg had also disbursed other grants totalling RM27.5 million to help various non-Islamic communities in the state.
Uggah added that UNIFOR is also in the process of setting up a trustee board which would raise funds to finance socio-economic activities.
He announced a grant of RM400,000 for the St Thomas Cathedral here to organise a number of activities next year.