MIRI: Sarawak must protect its tradition of religious freedom, mutual respect and racial harmony and reject attempts to use race or religion to divide its people, said Minister for Transport Sarawak, Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin.
Lee, who is also the Senadin assemblyman, said Sarawak’s multi-racial and multi-religious society was one of the state’s greatest strengths and should not be taken for granted.
“We have religious freedom. You have the right to choose your religion. The Government of Sarawak respects all religions,” he said.
Speaking at the BEM Hornbill UNIFOR Assistance Cheque Presentation, Lee said people of different faiths in Sarawak had long lived together peacefully, including coming together to pray for the state’s peace, prosperity and unity.
He warned Sarawakians against allowing political interests to exploit racial or religious differences.
“Do not allow anyone to divide us through race or religion. If we are divided, it is the people who will lose,” he said.
Lee said Sarawakians should instead remain focused on economic development, better living standards, employment opportunities and building a stronger future for the next generation.
The event also saw BEM Hornbill receiving a RM95,000 grant from the Unit for Other Religions (UNIFOR) for its BEM Hornbill Church Equipment Modernization Initiative.
Lee also announced a personal contribution of RM5,000, bringing the total assistance to RM100,000.
He said while RM100,000 might not be a large amount in the broader scheme of development, the additional RM5,000 could help the church acquire equipment and musical instruments, particularly to support young people involved in church activities.
Lee said he was encouraged to see increasing numbers of young people attending church, describing their participation as a positive sign for the community.
He also highlighted Sarawak’s broader development agenda, stressing that the state’s progress must be accompanied by greater opportunities for its people.
Among the major projects highlighted were improved connectivity in northern Sarawak, including the Miri-Marudi-Mulu road, the development of Miri Port, the expansion of Miri Airport and new developments under Kenyalang Smart City(KSC) .
The Miri Airport expansion, he said, involved an investment of about RM445 million, including an expanded terminal, a multi-storey car park and an increase in aerobridges from three to nine.
Lee also pointed to the potential of Miri Port and the Kuala Baram area as an important future industrial and logistics hub, while improved road connectivity would allow rural communities to bring agricultural and other products to Miri more efficiently.
He said Sarawak’s development also depended on investing in its own people, particularly through education, science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
With Sarawak expanding its own higher education opportunities, he said the state must develop more Sarawakian engineers, scientists, doctors and specialists instead of depending indefinitely on talent from outside the state.
Lee said the same spirit of unity should underpin Sarawak’s development.
“For Sarawak to move forward, we must remain united. We must respect one another, regardless of race or religion, and focus on building a better future for everyone,” he said.
He said Sarawak’s religious harmony was more than a political principle. It was a way of life that had developed over generations and must be protected for future generations.
