Uggah: Unifor recipients must prove spending, submit reports to secure future funding

KUCHING (Dec 4): Recipients of Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) funds have been reminded that future allocations will only be considered if they can provide proof that previous funds have been spent and supported by the required progress reports.

Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who oversees Unifor, said accountability from recipients is now a strict condition, as around 150 approved projects across Sarawak have yet to submit their expenditure and progress reports.

“If the funds given are not being spent, your request for the second application will not be considered and more so if we do not get any reports.

“The reports are important because audits are after us. Audits want to know the progress, what happened, who got the benefits,” he said during the third phase Unifor funding distribution at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here.

Uggah urged elected representatives receiving Unifor cheques on behalf of their constituencies to ensure funds are immediately channelled to the intended houses of worship and that reporting requirements are followed.

“We ask for the help of elected representatives not to forget to give the cheques to the recipients. We have a report that there is a cheque that is out of time.

“If the cheque is out of time, it means we have to go back and if you are not lucky, you will never get it back. Cheques expire after three months,” he said.

A total of RM40.5 million was distributed in the third-phase funding for houses of worship statewide, benefiting 138 projects. This marked the final portion of this year’s RM110 million Unifor allocation.

Uggah said the state government hopes to announce next year’s allocation on Dec 7, but cautioned that a reduced state revenue outlook could affect future funding levels.

He added that Unifor aims to prioritise earlier distribution next year, with work beginning as early as January so that all cheques can be disbursed by June.

“We promise you that we will allocate early and don’t wait until December. It is good that we are able to deliver the cheques as early as possible,” he said.

To improve transparency, quantity surveyors from the Public Works Department (JKR) will continue assessing approved project costs and implementation to ensure funds are properly utilised.

Uggah also emphasised that Unifor funding reflects Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s (GPS) policy of inclusivity for all religions and communities.

“We are the government of all the people in Sarawak. This gesture will prove that this is not just rhetoric, but we are doing it,” he said, urging recipients to share this message with communities, many of whom may not know the source of the funds.

He also noted that the RM20 million Unifor allocation for mission schools this year had been fully distributed and that the programme would continue next year.

Additionally, he announced that the Unifor building is now ready and will soon be opened as a symbolic asset of religious unity and inclusivity in Sarawak.

Later, Uggah told reporters that continued funding depends on proof of spending and timely reporting.

“Every year, the Premier of Sarawak allocates a certain amount to Unifor to fulfil our duty in developing houses of worship and this year he offered RM110 million.

“Next year, he has not informed us yet, but he told me he will continue to support Unifor’s programmes,” he said.

He stressed that Unifor does not simply distribute funds but closely monitors how they are used.

“We allocate funding with the intention that houses of worship will be rebuilt or repaired. That is what matters. As I said earlier, there are 154 projects that have yet to provide any report,” he said.

“We have a policy and if the allocation for that year has not been spent, we will not consider new applications next year, and the same goes for projects that do not report. This is accountability and governance that we want to ensure.”

Uggah urged full cooperation from recipients to use the funds as planned and submit reports promptly.

“We hope the recipients will cooperate and use the allocation for what has been proposed and planned, and then send the report to Unifor so that we know the development and the way forward for each house of worship,” he said.

Also present were Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian and Unifor director Georgina Apphia Ngau.