Mawan commends Unifor’s inclusion of elected rep when distributing funds to houses of worship

KUCHING (July 11): Pakan assemblyman Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom commends the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) for the inclusion of elected representatives in distribution of funds to houses of worship in their respective constituencies.

He said it is good that the elected representatives know about the movement of public funds in their constituencies.

“It would be better if church groups, especially those from the rural areas, to discuss or consult first with their respective YBs (elected representatives) on implementation of projects. It is good for them YBs to be in the know.

“This is also a mechanism to avoid any potential discrepancies and/or dubious dealings. After all, their applications involved public funds,” he said.

He was speaking after the handing-over ceremony of Unifor funds to two church groups at the Pakan service centre at Rubber Road here yesterday.

The church groups had applied for government grants to build access roads to their village Christian cemeteries.

Mawan, who is also an advisor in the Sarawak Premier’s Office (Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development), added that monitoring of Unifor funds is a standard operating procedure and the treasury’s requirement as well.

Meanwhile, during the ceremony, Mawan also presented Tuai Rumah Sibar Duat of Lubok Lemba, Ulu Sarikei with a RM380,000 cheque to build the longhouse’s 0.8km access road.

Apart from that, he also presented a RM480,000 cheque to Tuai Rumah Padang Kasa of Sungai Besai Bayong to build a 450m long access road and a 40m long suspension bridge to the longhouse.