KUCHING: The 10-day Festival Maal Hijrah 1448H/2026 organised by the Lembaga Amanah Kebajikan Masjid Negeri Sarawak (LAKMNS) came to a close today (June 21), marking the end of a programme aimed at strengthening Islamic understanding, and fostering unity among the community.
The closing ceremony was officiated by Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Regional Development Agency Coordination, North Kuching City Hall and Islamic Affairs) Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi at Dewan Serbaguna Taman Sukma.
In his officiating speech, Abdul Rahman highlighted the importance of empowering mosques as centres of ummah development, capable of creating meaningful impact in education, socio-economic growth and welfare.
“Mosques should not only function as places of worship but also as agents of change in promoting harmony and unity, especially in Sarawak’s multi-religious and multicultural society,” he said.
He also called for stronger governance and management of mosque institutions, including financial administration, while encouraging the adoption of technology and artificial intelligence in mosque operations and dakwah efforts.
He commended LAKMNS for its proactive initiatives, including the Internet Radio Islamic Sarawak (IRIS) platform and the Tadika Tahfiz Tun Abdul Rahman Ya’kub (TATTARY), describing them as examples of innovative community-based programmes.
Meanwhile, LAKMNS Honorary Secretary, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr Abdul Aziz Husain, said the festival has received overwhelming support since its introduction in 2022, including participation from non-Muslims.
He also highlighted ongoing strategic initiatives such as the expansion of Raudhatul Sakinah Islamic Cemetery and several waqf projects in collaboration with Yayasan Wakaf Sarawak.
The ceremony concluded with a symbolic flag-lowering by Dr Abdul Rahman, marking the official end of the festival.
