KUCHING: The houses of worship seeking funds from the Unit For Other Religions (UNIFOR) are reminded that their applications must be based on actual needs or costs.
Sarawak Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said, it was illogical for the houses of worship to come up with high estimates for construction or upgrading works just because they consider that the unit has a lot of money to spare.
“Such perception is illogical and UNIFOR is not a milking cow,” he stressed in a Grants Handover Programme held at his office here, on Tuesday.
The grants, totalling RM14.335 million under UNIFOR’s first tranche of payment, were handed over to finance 32 different projects in 20 state constituencies throughout Sarawak.
Among those receiving the cheques on behalf of their constituencies were the Sarawak Minister for Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, Sarawak Deputy Transport Minister, Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, as well as Sarawak Deputy Ministers for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Snowdan Lawan and Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew.
Others were Pakan assemblyman, Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom, Opar assemblyman, Billy Sujang, Kota Sentosa assemblyman, Yap Yau Sin, and Bukit Semuja assemblyman, John Ilus.
Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah noticed that the current trend is to present high estimates in their fund applications, citing an example of a cost that should have been RM2 million was then marked up to RM6 million.
“There are some organisations which are overly ambitious too. They have about 200 members but are planning for a church, chapel or temple costing a few million Ringgit.
“And just because we had approved, for instance, a grant of RM2 million for a particular church, chapel or temple, those in the same area (think that they) should get the same amount if they would apply for the aid.
“This is again illogical,” he stressed.
In view of this, the Sarawak Minister for Infrastructure and Port Development said, elected representatives must help in studying and verifying the actual fund needed.
This also include advising the Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg when he is presented with such request during his visits on the ground, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said.
“Our officers and architect will also be on the ground to verify,” he added. -UKASnews
