SANDAKAN: Just like educational institutions produce knowledgeable human capital that help drive introduce the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development plan, religous bodies play an important role in fostering noble and positive values among communities of various races and religions in the State.
Presenting Sabah Government financial aid to non-Muslim Schools and Religious Bodies for Sandakan Zone at SJK (C) Chi Hwa Hall, Tuesday.
Present were Sabah and Labuan Tiong Hua Chamber of Commerce President Tan Sri Andrew Liew, Sabah National Type Chinese School Committee Association (Sabah Dong Lian) President Ben Lim Kiat Kong, the Chinese National Type School Management Committee Association and Sandakan District Kindergarten representative Chin Tze Min and representatives of non-Muslim religious bodies Captain Thomas Lau Chi Keong.
Political security to the Chief Minister Datuk Roland Chia said this year, of the RM47 million, allocated RM20 million was for schools namely the Chinese private secondary schools, Chinese national type secondary schools, national secondary schools, SK/SM (mission schools) and kindergartens.
While another RM27 million has been allocated for non-Islamic religious bodies.For the Sandakan Zone, a total of RM1.98 million has been approved for schools, namely RM315,000 for a Chinese private secondary school (SMPC), RM420,000 for two national type secondary schools (SMJK), RM740,000 for 10 Chinese national type school (SJKC), RM370,000 for nine national primary/secondary schools (mission) (SRK/SMK), RM128,000 for 16 kindergartens and RM10,000 for a private school (mission).
“For the purpose of developing and repairing houses of worship of the non-Muslim religious bodies, a total of RM2.31 million was approved, namely RM1.35 million for churches, RM900,000 for 28 temples and RM60,000 for two Hindu/Sikh temples in the year 2022,” he said.
“Hopefully, the financial assistance can to some extent ease the burden in developing and repairing the schools and houses of worship involved,” said Roland.
He said the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah-Barisan Nasional (GRS-BN) Government always emphasises the principle of justice and equality in all aspects and always helps the people regardless of race and religion.
He said the main committee for the state government aid for schools and religious bodies chaired by Local Government and Housing Minister cum Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun and the technical committee chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the State Finance Ministry have held four meetings to evaluate every application received from various non-Muslim religious bodies and schools from all over Sabah.
Earlier, representing the recipients, Ben, Chin and Thomas in their speech expressed their gratitude to the State Government for the assistance.
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