KUCHING:  A total of 120 mission schools in Sarawak can now look forward to constructing new buildings or renovating existing ones, including buying new furniture as well as information technology (IT) and sports equipment.

This is after the Unit For Other Religions (UNIFOR) handed over aid totalling RM20 million to these schools for this year.

Sarawak Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas who is the Minister in Charge of UNIFOR presented the cheques to the advisors of the various religious authorities in a handover ceremony held here, on Monday.

They will later hand over the cheques to the respective elected representatives for them to distribute to the schools.

In his speech before the function, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah described the aid as a great help given by the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government to the schools involved.

"We hope with the new buildings and the upgrading for more complete facilities, our students will enjoy more conducive studying atmosphere.

"We also hope all schools receiving such aids will follow the financial regulations in spending based on the scope of their applications.

"They are to submit to UNIFOR the progress reports of their projects twice each year and in the months of March and September, until the projects are completed and the grants fully spent," he said.

Meanwhile, with the presentation, 44 schools under the Anglican Diocese of Kuching received a total of RM7,874,040.

A representative of the Sarawak Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn received the cheques for the amount on their behalf.

A sum of RM5,039,360 was also given to 32 schools under the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching.

Sarawak Deputy Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government, Datuk Dr Penguang Manggil received the cheques for them.

For 23 schools the Roman Catholic of the Sibu Diocese, they received a total of RM3,622,040. 

These schools were represented by Sarawak Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Snowdan Lawan.

Another seven schools under the Roman Catholic Church of Miri Diocese also received aid totalling RM1,102,360. 

A representative of the Sarawak Minister of Transport, Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin received the cheques for the amount on their behalf.

Meanwhile, Works Minister, Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi received cheques totalling RM1,259,840 for eight schools under the Methodist Church's Sarawak Iban Annual Conference (SIAC).

Six schools under the Methodist Church's Sarawak Chinese Annual Conference (SCAC) received a total of RM1,102,360. 

They were represented by a representative of the Sarawak Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development, Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.

Also present during the cheque presentation ceremony was UNIFOR Director, Dato Georgina Apphia Ngau. -UKASnews