KUCHING: Thirty Roman Catholic mission schools in Kuching have received grants totalling RM3.8mil from the state government through the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor).

       Assistant Minister of Local Government Datuk Dr Penguang Manggil said the grants show the government's commitment to enhance the prestige of mission schools, which have long been a pillar of unity in the state.

       "This is the first time such assistance has been given to mission schools by the state government.

       “It is a commendable move in line with the government's policy of inclusivity for all races and religions in Sarawak," he said at the presentation ceremony here on Tuesday (Nov 9).

       Penguang, who is also the Sarawak Roman Catholic mission schools adviser, said the state government was also committed to the provision of good infrastructure and facilities for mission schools in the state.

       "The mission schools executive committee under Unifor was set up to assist mission schools to manage and upgrade their facilities," he added.

       The grants are part of an initial RM15mil allocated by the state government through Unifor to 123 mission schools in Sarawak this year.

       For the Roman Catholic denomination, grants of RM2.76mil were also distributed to 23 schools in Sibu and RM840,000 to seven schools in Miri.

       The Anglican Diocese of Kuching received an allocation of RM6mil for its 50 schools statewide.

       For the Methodist denomination, the Sarawak Iban Annual Conference received an allocation of RM960,000 for eight schools while the Sarawak Chinese Annual Conference was allocated RM600,000.