Deputy Premier: Unifor forming advisory council to advise on matters concerning S’wak

Uggah (third left) joined by Alfred Damu (left), Danald Jutte, (second left) and Andrew Shie (right) beating a gong to officially declare open the House of Epiphany at St Thomas's Cathedral, Kuching, on Dec 4, 2023.

KUCHING, Dec 4: The Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) is forming an advisory council to advise on matters of interest or concern to Sarawak, says Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.

Uggah, also Unifor chairman, said it would be a forum where issues, including controversial ones, could be discussed amicably.

“A meeting on this proposed council will be held this Dec 7. This council, being consultative, will comprise senior leaders of various religions who come up with guidelines to address issues judiciously.

“We need to preserve the existing racial and religious harmony, unity, and understanding which have always been our beacon in a multi-racial and multi-religious Sarawak,” he said when officiating at the opening of the House of Epiphany at St Thomas’s Cathedral today.

Uggah (front, third left) accompanied by Bishop of Kuching Right Rev Datuk Danald Jute (front, centre) and others in front of the new House of Epiphany at St Thomas’s Cathedral, Kuching, on Dec 4, 2023.

On the same note, Uggah said the construction of the Unifor Complex has reached 70.66 per cent completion as of November.

According to him, the progress is 0.66 per cent ahead of schedule of 70 per cent.

“This complex, built with an RM80 million grant from the State government, occupies the prime commercial location of Kuching Central Land District at Ong Tiang Swee Road,” he added.

The RM80 million nine-storey office cum commercial complex comprises commercial units, office space, one main hall with a capacity for 150 tables, meeting rooms, and a rooftop garden.

Meanwhile, during the event, Uggah also presented a cheque for RM60,000 from the State government to purchase new bagpipes and drum sets for the Boys Brigade group of the St Thomas Cathedral.

Reverand Kho Thong Meng received the cheque. — DayakDaily