By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Nov 13: the Unit For Other Religions (Unifor) handed over RM2.1 million to the St Thomas Columbarium project in Kuching today.
A cheque for the amount was presented by the Minister-in-Charge of Unifor and Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas to the Right Reverend Bishop Datuk Danald Jute who received it on behalf of the columbarium management committee.
Uggah explained the amount was for part of the Unifor funds promised for the columbarium and is part of the last package of the RM110 million allocated to Unifor by the Sarawak Premier for 2024.
“Now, we are praying for another allocation for next year,” he told reporters after handing the cheque to Danald at the former’s office at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) Complex here.
According to Danald, the project costing RM8.5 million is now 60 per cent completed and will be ready by the end of 2025.
He revealed the new columbarium has a storage capacity of 9,000 little cubicles for the urns of cremated remains.
He added that the columbarium is located between St Thomas’ School and the old museum, where the old Anglican cemetery was.
Danald said that the columbarium is not just for Anglicans.
“We have agreed amongst the Association of Churches. I have shared with the leaders of the other churches that we are open to facilitating for them as well.”
He also disclosed that there is a management committee that is not only working on the building but is responsible for its overall management.
Danald explained that there is a need for a new columbarium in the city as the Roman Catholic St Peter’s Columbarium is already nearly fully booked.
“We appreciate the State government, and assure that we will use every single allocation for the purpose of the building,” he said. — DayakDaily
