By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 7: The construction of St George’s Church Sebauh next to the Sebauh District Mosque, which is currently under construction, is seen as a symbol of harmony among Sarawak’s multiracial and multi-religious society.
According to TVS, Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the houses of worship for two different faiths side by side reflect the peace and mutual respect that has become the identity of the State.
“We are building a church, and next to it, a mosque is being built. This is the Sarawak that we are proud of, this is the Sarawak that we are fortunate enough to enjoy in peace and harmony,” he said.
He said this at the groundbreaking ceremony for the St George’s Church Sebauh project on Saturday (Sept 6).
According to him, the construction of the new church was approved by Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg with an allocation of RM10 million through the Unit for Other Religions (UNIFOR), to replace the old, dilapidated church.
The project will be built on a five-acre site, which commenced on Aug 25, and is expected to be completed by Aug 24, 2026.
Uggah added that since the establishment of UNIFOR in 2017, more than RM400 million has been channelled for the construction and repair of non-Muslim houses of worship throughout Sarawak, excluding this new church project.
“According to reports, 1,097 projects have been completed, another 735 are under construction. Meanwhile, 66 projects, including St George’s Church Sebauh, are about to start.
“There are also 342 projects that have received funds but have not yet submitted progress reports to UNIFOR. We do not know whether they have been built, not yet started, or facing problems such as land issues. This will be investigated,” he explained.
He also urged all parties who had received allocations through UNIFOR to submit status reports on their respective projects to ensure the smooth progress of houses of worship construction in the State.
For 2025, UNIFOR received a total allocation of RM110 million, with RM90 million designated for the construction and maintenance of houses of worship, while RM20 million is for mission schools. — DayakDaily
