By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 24: Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan has presented cheques amounting to RM3.622 million, approved by the Unit For Other Religion (Unifor), to 23 mission schools under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sibu.
In a statement today, Snowdan urged the mission schools to utilise the approved Unifor funds wisely.
“The approved fund provided by the State government through Unifor should be spent prudently for its specific intended purposes only,” he advised before presenting the cheques to the representatives of the mission schools at his office at MASJA II yesterday (Sept 23).
The funds are designated for various purposes as stated in the schools’ applications, including building maintenance, ICT equipment for resource centers, construction of tennis and volleyball courts, purchase of school furniture, upgrading of classrooms and roofs, repairs of toilets, windows, and pipes, upgrading staff quarters, fencing, construction of new buildings and dining halls, among others.
Snowdan emphasised that the school Board of Trustees or Management Committee must comply with the approval terms and conditions and submit a report to Unifor upon the completion of each project to ensure proper accounting and prudent spending.
As the Advisor of the Mission Authority, Roman Catholic Diocese of Sibu, Snowdan expressed appreciation to Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg for allocating this dedicated budget annually, and to Unifor, headed by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, for approving the mission schools’ applications.
“This is a true reflection of understanding that manifests genuine harmony amongst the multi-ethnicities that prevail in our Sarawak First tagline and make us unique despite the diversity,” he said.
The cheques were handed over to Bishop Joseph Hii Teck Kwong, who received them on behalf of the mission schools in Sibu, Sarikei, Mukah, Kanowit, Selangau, Dalat, Julau, Meradong, and Song. — DayakDaily
