Sarawak govt recognises important role of churches in spiritual development, helping build peaceful and harmonious community

 MIRI, March 8 2026: Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) Gerawat Gala said the state government recognises the important role of churches in contributing to the spiritual development of the community and helping build a peaceful, progressive and harmonious community.

Gerawat Gala says since 2017, Unifor has been allocated with RM565 million to assist churches and other non-Islamic religious institutions 

“So in recognition of the important and highly impactful role played by the Church in building our nation, the state government has established the Unit for Other Religious Affairs (Unifor),” he said today, quoted by Berita RTM Sarawak.

He said Unifor was established in 2017, having a specific annual budget allocation to assist churches and other religious institutions.

Gerawat was speaking at the book launch of Uncharted Waters: Memoirs of C. Hudson Southwell in Miri.

He  said that since 2017 the state government has allocated approximately RM565 million to assist churches and other non-Islamic religious institutions in implementing various development projects.

According to him, quoted by Berita RTM Sarawak, of the amount, RM70.9 million has been channelled to Borneo Evangelical Mission (BEM) churches to implement 639 church development projects throughout the state.

He explained that the total allocation also does not include direct grants channeled to several BEM church projects such as RM10 million to the BEM Belaga Church, RM10 million to the BEM Sungai Asap Church, and RM10 million to the BEM Centre Batu Kawa in Kuching.

He also hoped that the church would continue to work closely with the state government in efforts to build a stronger, united and progressive Sarawak.

Sibu fire renders a family of five homeless

SIBU, March 8 2026: A family of five was rendered homeless when their wooden house at Kampung Bahagia Jaya, Jalan Teku here was completely razed to the ground by fire this evening.

Caption: The fire at its height, engulfing the wooden house at Jalan Teku - Photo by Bomba 

Sungai Merah Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) said it received an emergency call about the incident at about 6.50pm.

It said firemen, upon arrival at the location, found that the fire involved a non-permanent structure type house which was completely destroyed in the fire,” it said in a statement.

The fire also completely destroyed a car and a motorcycle.

However, there were no reports of human casualties or injuries.

The family is made up of a man, three women and a child.

After ensuring that the situation was under control and the fire was completely extinguished, the firemen then left for the station.

 

Proposal to add 17 new Sarawak State Assembly seats expected to be table in the July sitting of Parliament

KUCHING, March 8 2026: Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof said that proposal to add 17 new seats to the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (SLA), which will increase the total number of seats from 82 to 99, is expected to be tabled in the July Parliament session.

Caption: Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof says that the discussions on the 17 additional seats are now at the federal level 

He said that discussions on the matter are still ongoing at the federal government level before it is tabled for consideration by Parliament.

“Right now we are only discussing at the federal level and we aim for the proposal to add more seats to the Sarawak SLA to be tabled in the July Parliament session,” he said.

He was speaking to reporters after attending the Iftar Jamaie NEXGEN P194 Petra Jaya 2026 held at the Al-Ghazali Mosque here this evening.

The Petra Jaya MP added that any further developments on the matter will only be known after the proposal to add more seats is tabled and receives Parliament’s approval.

Sarawak SLA on 7 July 2025 passed the State Legislative Assembly (Membership Composition) Bill 2025 which saw the addition of 17 new seats, bringing the total to 99 SLA seats.

At the same ceremony, Fadillah also presented duit raya donations to tahfiz students from Madrasah Darul Uloom Islamiyyah Rampangi, Madrasah Darul Uloom Al-Fatah and Madrasah Tahfiz Al-Qurah Bidayatul Muthadin as well as to residents of Toh Puan Hajah Norkiah Children's Home.

 

In conjunction with International Women's Day, Governor, wife say women are very special people

KUCHING, March 8 2026: Governor Tun Wan Junaidi  Tuanku Jaafar and his Toh Puan Fauziah  Mohd Sanusi have extended their greetings to women in Malaysia, especially in Sarawak, wishing them a Happy Women's Day in conjunction with the International Women’s Day.

They said that women are very special people in all of our lives.

“Their roles as mothers, wives, children, family leaders and community leaders contribute greatly to the formation of strong families and a harmonious and prosperous society,” they said.

In his own life, the governor’s experience began with the guidance of a mother, followed by the presence of a very disciplined and modest wife, who gave birth to three daughters.

With that, he has come to understand the soul and instincts of women more deeply.

“Now, the presence of my loving and loyal wife, Toh Puan Fauziah, is a source of strength and inspiration in every step of my journey,” he said.

“May this International Women's Day celebration be a reminder to all to continue to appreciate the services, sacrifices, and dedication of women, and ensure that they are always respected and empowered in building a better future for the state and the nation,” they said.