KUCHING: To cater for a growing Muslim community here, there is a real need for a new and bigger mosque to be built in Balai Ringin.
The existing one is getting crowded and inconvenient.
Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan said this in response to the request by village chief Idris Manap and the mosque committee members during the breaking of fast held at Masjid Jamek, Kampung Melayu Balai Ringin over the weekend.
Moreover, he said it would be timely and in tandem with Balai Ringin being elevated as a new sub-district.
“But our real concern is the space to accommodate the growing Muslim community to perform their prayers,” he said.
Currently the existing mosque requires regular maintenance and the facilities are inadequate too.
Meanwhile during the event, Snowdan handed over cash incentives to 30 recipients who are undergoing their Tadarus Al- Quran studies during Ramadan.
Snowdan, who is also Balai Ringin assemblyman, distributed food aid to 23 asnaf recipients consisting of single mothers, the disabled and the needy from the village.
He also explained that Balai Ringin town will experience more development from now with the new township along with the waterfront project, retail and commercial lots, recreation facilities, long distance bus parking bays and new sub district offices to be built.
The new mini stadium is scheduled for completion within this year.
Snowdan also allocated minor rural projects (MRP) fund amounting to RM20,000 to the village development and security committee (JKKK), women bureau (RM10,000) and the mosque committee (RM10,000) to finance their annual activities.
Present during the event were Balai Ringin SAO Mohd Adam Muslim Abdullah, village chief Idris Manap, Penghulu Anthony Lama, Penghulu Moshidi, Councillor Briten, Councillor Collin and headmen from nearby villages.
