By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, March 5: The spirit of unity and harmony among Sarawak’s multireligious and multicultural communities was on full display as leaders from various faiths and backgrounds gathered for an interfaith ‘iftar’ (breaking of fast) hosted by the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) at the Astana Negeri Sarawak’s surau on the second night of Ramadan.
According to a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) news report, the event was led by Sarawak Head of State (TYT) Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, who attended alongside his wife, Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi.
Also present were government leaders, senior civil servants, and religious figures from diverse faith communities.
Among the notable attendees were Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Law, MA63, and State-Federal Relations), Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, Sarawak Public Service Commission chairperson Datu Dr Sabariah Putit, Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) Sarawak director Hamdan Jar’ee, Tabung Haji Sarawak director Amat Kassim Pait, and Tanjong Datu assemblyman Azizul Annuar Adenan.
The event held special significance with the participation of prominent non-Muslim religious leaders, reinforcing Sarawak’s reputation for religious tolerance and mutual respect.
Among them were Unifor director Dato Georgina Apphia Ngau, Bishop of the Anglican Church in Sarawak and Brunei the Rt Revd Datuk Danald Jute, Kuching Roman Catholic Archbishop Dato Simon Poh, Datuk Tay Chin Kin, Datin Dona Drury Wee, Dato Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira, and Dato Shankar Ram Asnani.
Ukas reported that the evening began with Maghrib prayers, followed by the breaking of fast with Unifor guests.
It continued with a warm fellowship session and a photo opportunity, strengthening interfaith relationships.
The event concluded with Wan Junaidi performing ‘Isyak’ and ‘Tarawih’ prayers alongside the congregation.
This iftar gathering not only highlighted Sarawak’s commitment to fostering interfaith understanding but also reaffirmed the State government’s dedication to preserving the values of unity and inclusivity, making Sarawak a model of harmony in Malaysia. — DayakDaily
