KUCHING: St Margaret Church in Stampin has received an additional RM350,000 grant from the Unit for Other Religions (UNIFOR).
The cheque was officially handed over by Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap Yau Sin to Father Almond Pritchie during a brief ceremony attended by church committee members, community leaders, and parishioners here today (July 6).
He said the grant was part of a continued commitment to promoting religious harmony and supporting the needs of local faith communities.
“This latest allocation brings the total UNIFOR grants disbursed to St Margaret Church to RM2.05 million, reflecting the Sarawak government’s strong commitment to assisting non-Muslim houses of worship to grow and serve their communities,” said Yap during the ceremony.
Yap said the UNIFOR grant underscores the Sarawak government’s policy of inclusivity and its proactive efforts to ensure all faith communities have the resources to build and maintain their places of worship.
“St Margaret Church has long been a cornerstone of Kampung Stampin and BDC, not only as a house of worship but as a centre for education, charity, and community service.
“Under the leadership of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, Sarawak is proud to be the only state in Malaysia with UNIFOR, a dedicated institution to ensure no religion is left behind,” he said.
Yap also commended Almond and the church committee for their perseverance in mobilising support and coordinating construction phases despite economic pressures and rising costs.
“I will continue to advocate for further allocations to St Margaret Church and other places of worship in Kota Sentosa so that our diverse communities can continue to thrive in peace and mutual respect,” he said.
In addition, Yap also handed over his contribution of RM3,000 to the church’s Women’s Fellowship to support their community and welfare programmes.
For the record, the new church building, with an estimated project cost exceeding RM4.2 million, will provide an enhanced space for worship, religious education, and outreach programmes benefitting thousands of residents in the greater Stampin and BDC areas.
