Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah (centre) presenting cheques to state Deputy Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Dr Penguang Manggil on behalf of mission schools under the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching.
KUCHING: The Sarawak government has handed over RM20mil in financial assistance to 120 mission schools in the state for this year through the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor).
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said the schools could use the grants for construction or renovation works and purchasing furniture, IT and sports equipment, among others.
"This allocation is a big help to the schools from the Sarawak government.
"We hope that with new buildings and upgraded facilities, our students will enjoy a more conducive atmosphere for studying," he said when presenting the cheques to the advisers of the various religious authorities here on Monday (Aug 19).
They will later hand over the cheques to the respective elected representatives to be distributed to the schools.
Uggah, who is the minister in charge of Unifor, advised the schools to follow the financial regulations in using the grants based on the scope of their applications.
"They are to submit to Unifor the progress reports of their projects twice a year, in March and September, until the projects are completed and the grants fully spent," he said.
From the allocation, 44 schools under the Anglican Diocese of Kuching received a total of RM7.87mil.
A sum of RM5.04mil was allocated to 32 schools under the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching.
Another 23 schools under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sibu received a total of RM3.62mil, while seven schools under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Miri received grants totalling RM1.1mil.
In addition, eight schools under the Methodist Sarawak Iban Annual Conference received a total of RM1.26mil.
Another six schools under the Methodist Sarawak Chinese Annual Conference received grants totalling RM1.1mil.
