Uggah: Unifor aims to become dept, enhance role in safeguarding religious harmony

KUCHING (July 12): The Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) is aiming to become a department under the state government with guidance from the Deputy State Secretary, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.

According to him, the unit is now working closely with Deputy State Secretary Datu Hii Chang Kee for guidance to ensure it is well prepared to become a state government department.

“Unifor safeguards the religious harmony and looks after the needs of other religions in multiracial Sarawak. The unit is now in the process of expanding into a department to enhance its role.

“I hope Hii can guide the unit to become a department and see how things can be worked out,” he said in his speech during the Unifor exchange of duty dinner at a local hotel here on Thursday night.

At the dinner, the exchange of duty was between Unifor’s new director Datuk Georgina Apphia Ngau and outgoing director Datu Jack Aman, where the signing was witnessed by Uggah.

In welcoming Georgina to her new role, Uggah said she was the right person for the job due to her vast leadership experience.

A former Registrar of Societies Sarawak director, Georgina took on her new role on July 1.

She commented her new responsibilities include finding ways and means to preserve and further strengthen existing solid inter-religious and interracial unity and harmony in Sarawak.

“I hope to continue the good work of my predecessors. I will not only strive to maintain their efforts but also strengthen the original purpose Unifor was created for.

“I am also fortunate enough to have come in contact with all the former Unifor directors before this when I was still with the Registrar of Societies,” she said in her speech.

Also present were Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Dr Penguang Manggil, Hii, Sarawak Police Commissioner Dato Mancha Ata and Association of Churches Sarawak chairman Rt Rev Datuk Danald Jute.