Sarawak is very unique, where people of different backgrounds have high respect and tolerance for one another. There is a strong unity and people work and cooperate with each other. —–Datuk Snowdan Lawan
SIBU: The state government through Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) distributed funding assistance totalling RM2.76 million to 23 Roman Catholic mission schools in Sibu Division for 2021 on Thursday.
This funding was the first financial assistance received from the state government for the mission schools.
Advisor to Mission Authority, Roman Catholic Diocese of Sibu, Datuk Snowdan Lawan symbolically presented the mock cheque for the amount to Catholic Bishop of Sibu, Right Reverend Joseph Hii, while the approval letter for the allocation to Sarawak mission schools under the supervision of Mission Authority, Roman Catholic Diocese of Sibu, was received by their respective school principals.
When met after officiating at the cheque presentation ceremony at SMK Sacred Heart yesterday, Snowdan said RM165 million had been received from the state government through Unifor to assist houses of worship, mission schools and for operations since the unit was formed in 2017.
“This is the second last of the three-series event, and the last stop will be in Kapit, with about RM2 million to be given out to schools there,” he said.
In his speech earlier, he said many politicians including those from Sabah have praised Sarawak for being a melting pot of religion, cultures and ethnicities.
In fact, Snowdan pointed out that Keluarga Malaysia which is similar to 1Malaysia concept, has long been practised in Sarawak.
“We can become a role model to other states in the country,” he said, adding people of diverse backgrounds in Sarawak live and work together in peace and harmony.
“Sarawak is very unique, where people of different backgrounds have high respect and tolerance
for one another.
“There is a strong unity and people work and cooperate with each other,” he added.
Unifor director Richard Lon in his speech sought the cooperation from schools receiving the assistance to furnish report on a quarterly basis.
Among those present were senator Robert Lau, Sibu Catholic Education Council chairman Stephen Tan, Sibu district education officer Ahli Chikba, councillor Joseph Chieng and Sacred Heart School Old Students Association (Shosa) president Yong King Sung.
