FRIENDLY HOUSES OF WORSHIP (FRIENDLY HOW) PROGRAMME (PADUNGAN, PENDING & BATU LINTANG) NO.1 FOR 2026
FRIENDLY HOUSES OF WORSHIP (FRIENDLY HOW) PROGRAMME (PADUNGAN, PENDING & BATU LINTANG) NO.1 FOR 2026
16 August 2026, (Sunday)
12.00 noon
Theatre Hotel, Kuching
The Unit for Other Religions (UNIFOR) organised the Friendly Houses of Worship (FRIENDLY HOW) Programme today, bringing together representatives of Houses of Worship and religious communities from Padungan, Pending and Batu Lintang.
The programme was attended by YB Datuk Amar Professor Dr. Sim Kui Hian, Deputy Premier of Sarawak and Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government, as Guest of Honour, together with YBhg. Dato Wee Hong Seng, Mayor of Kuching South (MBKS).
UNIFOR is widely known for facilitating Sarawak Government assistance to Houses of Worship of other religions. However, there is another equally important part of UNIFOR’s role promoting unity and harmony among Sarawak’s diverse religious communities.
FRIENDLY HOW is part of this effort.
It brings UNIFOR closer to the people on the ground to meet, listen and build relationships with our Houses of Worship and religious communities. Not every engagement needs to begin with an issue or an application for assistance. Sometimes, it is simply important to know one another and keep the lines of communication open.
Building these relationships matters. When people already know and understand one another, it is easier to sit together and talk when issues do arise.
Representatives from the Christian, Buddhist, Taoist, Hindu, Sikh and Bahá’í communities participated in today’s programme, reflecting the diversity that is very much part of Sarawak.
As shared during the programme:
“Cubit paha kiri, paha kanan terasa;
cubit paha kanan, paha kiri terasa.”
What affects one, affects us all.
The peace and harmony that Sarawak enjoys today did not happen by accident. It has been built over generations through mutual respect, understanding and the willingness to live alongside one another.
UNIFOR’s responsibility is to continue strengthening that foundation not only through assistance to Houses of Worship, but also through engagement, understanding and relationships across our religious communities.
