By DayakDaily Team
SERIAN, May 27: The blessing ceremony of the Holy Spirit Chapel in Kampung Rituh Labuan and Mawang highlighted Sarawak’s inclusive approach towards religious harmony, with assistance such as funding from the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) being channelled fairly and comprehensively to various houses of worship across the State.
In a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) news, Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn said the strength of inter-community relations in Sarawak has been translated into State administrative policies that emphasise the principles of equality and mutual respect.
“The uniqueness of unity and harmony in Sarawak allows assistance such as Unifor funds to be distributed to all religions regardless of background.
“All of this can only be seen in Sarawak, nowhere else. Even though our leaders may be of different religions from us, they still listen to the needs of the people through community leaders,” he said.
He highlighted this when speaking at the blessing ceremony of the Holy Spirit Chapel in Kampung Rituh Labuan and Mawang conducted by Anglican Bishop Datuk Danald Jute recently
Meanwhile, the the Holy Spirit Chapel Kampung Rituh Labuan and Mawang chairman SD Laum Rikes said that the construction of the church began in 2014 through an application to the area’s then-elected representative, before physical construction started in 2018 using accumulated funds.
According to him, the chapel’s construction was supported through various funding sources, including an initial allocation of RM370,000, Unifor assistance in 2020 amounting to RM200,000, and an additional RM100,000 in the following year.
He also explained that in 2024, an application under the Rural Transformation Programme (RTP) was approved for RM200,000, in addition to a further RM70,000 from Unifor to complete the construction and interior fittings.
Overall, the construction and fitting costs of the chapel reached RM940,000, made possible through the Sarawak government’s support via various assistance channels, including Unifor. — DayakDaily
