KUCHING, Sept 29: A committee to look after the needs of mission schools in the state will be formed soon.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said he had talked to the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg on the problems these schools are facing.
“He (Abang Johari) responded by asking me to have a committee in Unifor (Unit For Other Religions) to specifically look at their needs. We have too a committee now to look at the welfare of Chinese vernacular schools in the state under the Minister of Local Government and Housing Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian,” said Uggah, adding that Unifor is an evident of Abang Johari’s inclusive policy.
Uggah said this when speaking at a ceremony to hand over Unifor’s additional grant of RM1.5 million for the construction of the Diocese of Kuching ‘s House of Epiphany here today.
He also witnessed the signing of construction agreement between Datuk Danald Jute, Bishop of Anglican Church Sarawak and Brunei and Kenny Ho, the chief executive of the Leya Construction for the construction of the RM10million House of Epiphany in the St Thomas’s Cathedral compound.
“I have directed for Unifor to organise a meeting next week. The representatives of the Catholic, Anglican and Methodist churches will be invited to this meeting with a view to form a committee. This committee can then identify the needs of such schools,” said Uggah who is the minister in charge of Unifor.
He took the opportunity to urge members of any churches to study very carefully and discuss with Unifor before responding to any provocative posting in the social media, pointing out that some messages posted on social media are indeed very challenging.
Meanwhile, in his speech Danald thanked Abang Johari for the state government’s earlier contribution of RM7million toward the House of Epiphany project.
He hoped more fund would be given to Unifor to allow the unit to help not only the Christian religious groups but other houses of worship.
The Anglican Bishop also hoped that the unit could be further enhanced or elevated to allow it to do more.
“I salute this inclusive policy of the Chief Minister. This augurs very well for the state ” said Danald. — DayakDaily
