KUCHING: A total of RM3.56 million has been disbursed to 23 mission schools across the Sibu Division to support infrastructure upgrades and learning facilities.
The funds, channelled through the Unit for Other Religions (UNIFOR), were handed over on Wednesday by Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Snowdan Lawan, who is also the UNIFOR coordinator for the Sibu Division, to Bishop Joseph Hii Teck Kwong of the Diocese of Sibu office at the Baitulmakmur 2 building here.
Snowdan said the grants were approved based on working papers and costings submitted by the respective schools.
He advised school authorities to ensure the funds are utilised strictly for their intended purposes and to submit progress and completion reports to UNIFOR promptly for monitoring.
“The allocations are meant to improve facilities and create a safer, more conducive learning environment for students, teachers and school administrators,” he said during the handover ceremony.
The grants will be used for a wide range of purposes, including building maintenance, classroom and digital room upgrades, Information and Communication Techonology (ICT) and electronic equipment purchases, construction of new school blocks, drainage improvements, CCTV installations, digital learning tools, furniture, pathways and sports facilities.
Of the 23 recipient schools, seven are located in Sibu, five in Dalat, three each in Sarikei and Selangau, two in Mukah, and one each in Kanowit, Julau, Meradong and Song.
Snowdan noted that mission schools in Sarawak are fortunate to receive consistent financial assistance from the state government, a support not commonly extended in other parts of the country.
He also highlighted the state’s continued commitment to interfaith harmony, citing the increase of UNIFOR’s allocation to RM120 million in 2026, as announced by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg during the recent UNIFOR Appreciation Night.
“This reflects the sincerity of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government in promoting interfaith tolerance and peaceful coexistence in our diverse society,” he added.
Meanwhile, Sibu Diocesan Catholic Education Council’s Secretary and Chairman, Stephen Tan, expressed appreciation for the continued support, describing the assistance as a blessing for mission schools in Sarawak.
He said funding for mission schools began in 2021 and has now entered its fifth year, with a key focus on ensuring a safe and conducive environment for pupils’ physical, mental, emotional and spiritual development.
