KUCHING: The Unit for Other Religions (UNIFOR) will engage with the Public Works Department (PWD) to assess and determine appropriate funding amounts for grant applications related to houses of worship.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who also oversees UNIFOR, said that officers will clarify the procedures to ensure applicants understand the approved grant amount and to ensure the allocated funds are appropriately matched with the actual value of work delivered to each house of worship.
“That’s why we decided now to engage PWD to be our architect, and I hope you don’t mind if they go down (to the site) to help evaluate what is the reasonable amount that should be allocated to your application.
“There might be a bit of a problem, but please cooperate,” he said during the Phase 1 Cheque Presentation Ceremony for the Other Religion Places of Worship 2025, held at Wisma Bapa Malaysia yesterday (June 17).
For this first phase, Uggah said UNIFOR has approved RM16.7 million in funding, representing 18 per cent of the total RM90 million allocation for houses of worship, benefiting 64 projects. Meanwhile, an allocation of RM20 million has been earmarked for Mission Schools.
Uggah shared that UNIFOR has successfully completed 2,260 projects to date, though 86 projects valued at RM19.5 million have yet to commence.
He called on all recipients to begin their projects without delay to ensure proper use of the allocated funds and affirmed that UNIFOR will continue to closely monitor the progress of every approved initiative.
