Use Unifor funds prudently and for intended purposes only, says Snowdan

KUCHING (Sept 24): The approved fund provided by the state government through the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) should be used prudently and for its specific intended purposes only, said Datuk Snowdan Lawan.

According to a statement, Snowdan, who is Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts presented cheques to Bishop Joseph Hii on behalf of the mission schools at his office at Masja II on Monday.

The advisor of the Mission Authority, Roman Catholic, Diocese of Sibu said the cheques totalling RM3.622 million are to be distributed to 23 mission schools under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sibu in Sibu, Sarikei, Mukah, Kanowit, Selangau, Dalat, Julau, Meradong and Song.

“These cheques are meant for various purposes according to what is stated in their applications and requests such as building maintenance, ICT equipment for the resource centres, tennis and volleyball courts, purchase of school furniture, upgrading of classrooms and roofs, repairs of toilets, windows and pipes, upgrading staff quarters, school fencing, new buildings, dining halls and others,” he said.

Snowdan advised the schools’ Board of Trustees or Management Committees to comply with the fund’s approval terms and conditions as well as its specific purposes by submitting a report to Unifor upon the completion of each project as due diligence.

“This is to ensure proper accounting trails and prudent spending,” he added.

Among the schools to receive the funds are SJK Scared Heart Chinese Sibu, SJK St Martin Sarikei, SMK Sacred Heart Sibu, SMK St Elizabeth Sibu, SMK St Patrick Mukah, SMK St Anthony Sarikei, SMK St Rita Sibu, SK Sacred Heart Sibu, SK St Mary Sibu, SK Hua Hin (English) Sibu, SK St Francis Xavier Kanowit, SK St Patrick Mukah, SK St Mathew Sekuau Selangau, SK St Luke Nanga Baoh Dalat, SK St Mark Selangau, SK St Jude Dalat, SK St Bernard Dalat, SK St John Dalat, SK St Kevin Sg Kut Dalat, SK St Anne Sarikei, SK St Alphonsus Julau, SK St Augustine Meradong and SK St Cardinal Vaughan Song .