Ripin (second right) officiates at the event witnessed by Lee (right), organising chairwoman Esther Wong (left) and others.   MIRI: Communities in the state must avoid segregating themselves based on race and religion, but instead work together to grow stronger as Sarawakians. Lambir assemblyman Ripin Lamat who said this added that unity amongst the many races has always been a pride of the state, and an envy of others. “The celebration of the Mooncake Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival stresses on reunion of the family and community. “It stresses the importance of unity, which is why it is positively overwhelming to see members of SUPP Lambir Youth and PBB members coming together to celebrate the occasion,” he said. Ripin was speaking ...

A representative of a developer explains some features of their project to Dr Sim (second right) as Ngui (left) and Sheda advisor Troy Yaw (right) look on. BINTULU: Property development must go beyond building houses and infrastructure as the developers and residents in the estates should strive to nurture a healthy and safe community in their area. Minister of Housing and Local Government Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said often people do not know their neighbours and do not take time to interact with each other. This had led to cases where thieves entered a house and carted away all the furniture and valuables in broad daylight without their neighbours raising alarm as they thought the victims were moving house, he said when officiating at the opening of the 2018 Sheda Home and ...

Abang Johari (seated centre from left) flanked on his right by Douglas and Awang Tengah at the bilateral meeting with Ali Apong flanked by Dr Mat Suny and Erywan. BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei: Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg led a top-level delegation for a two-day working visit to Brunei aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation between Sarawak and the sultanate. The delegation included Abang Johari’s wife Datin Patinggi Dato Haji Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Haji Bujang, deputy chief ministers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and State Secretary Tan Sri Mohd Morshidi Abdul Gani, accompanied by government officials from the respective departments and agencies. They arrived in Brunei on Tuesday and were ...

Talib (sixth right), Hii (sixth left) and other guests posing with the two lions. BINTULU: The presence of thousands of people from all walks of life at the opening of Bintulu Tanglung Carnival 2018 at Naim Bintulu Paragon Street mall on Saturday evening is a testament of strong unity among Sarawakians. In stating this, Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Talib Zulpilip hailed the carnival as a good avenue to foster greater understanding and unity among all races. Regardless of race and religion we are here participating in peace and this is a sign of the harmony in Sarawak,” the Jepak assemblyman said in his address at the opening of the carnival, representing Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg. Also ...

Awang Tengah and Talib (6th and 5th left in front row respectively) join the attendees in giving their approval to the integrity pledge. LAWAS: The Sarawak state government will remain firm in upholding integrity through the empowerment of integrity programmes with the Integrity Unit of the Chief Minister’s Office. In fact, Sarawak is the first state in the country where State Cabinet ministers and its civil service took the integrity pledge which was spearheaded by the previous chief minister, the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan when officiating at the opening ceremony of an integrity programme – Community Leaders Series 6/2018 – at the Seri Malaysia Hotel Lawas yesterday. He said the establishment ...

Ngenang (fifth right) launches the association witnessed by its central committee members and others. KUCHING: Sarawak Evangelical Christian Association (Seca) comprising 34 registered member churches was officially launched by Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) director Datu Dr Ngenang Janggu at a hotel here yesterday. The association which was registered with the Registar of Societies (ROS) on March 15, 2017 aimed to offer a united voice on matters of common concern to the government. “Our history goes back about 30 years. This is only (a) legal formalisation of that relationship network,” Seca chairman Pastor Matthew Ling told reporters on Monday night during the launch. He added the association seeks to provide a platform for the promotion of the ...

(From right) Asfia, Abang Johari and Taib joined by other Muslims during the Maal Hijrah prayer ceremony. SIBU: About 1,000 people attended a special prayer ceremony to mark the end of the year 1439 Hijrah and the beginning of 1440 Hijrah held at An-Nur Mosque here on Monday. The prayer ceremony held in conjunction with the state-level Maal Hijrah celebration was attended by the Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and his wife Toh Puan Ragad Kurdi Taib, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg and wife Datin Patinggi Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Bujang and the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar. Among others who joined the prayer ceremony were Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research ...

Taib (10th left) is seen with the Tokoh Maal Hijrah award recipients. From eighth left are Juma’ani, Abang Johari, Raghad, and Sarawak Islamic Council president Datu Misnu Taha. SIBU: Malaysia’s unique system of Islamic traditions respects other religions and allows for religious freedom, said Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud. Speaking at the Sarawak-level Maal Hijrah Celebration held at the Sibu Islamic Complex yesterday, Taib said the country must work to maintain this good relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims. “In Sarawak, we must not forget to give a good image to the world that Malaysia, which has a multiracial society and Islam as an official religion, has shown tolerance and respect for other religions. “Thus ...

Uggah and Turkson jointly hit gongs to open the congress. Poh is on Uggah’s left, while Marino is on Turkson’s right. KUCHING: Sarawak’s Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) is the only formal government agency in Malaysia to look after the needs of non-Muslims, reflecting Sarawak’s priorities regarding inclusion and diversity. Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said Sarawak is a model for the country, where those of different religious beliefs can live peacefully. “A high degree of religious tolerance, acceptance, and mutual respect amongst the people of different religious beliefs prevail in Sarawak,” he said at The International Catholic Committee of Nurses and Medico-Social Assistants (CICIAMS) XX World Congress ...

Lee (standing front, seventh left) with representatives of associations and organisations that received the MRP grants. MIRI: The Sarawak government tries to distribute Minor Rural Project (MRP) grants fairly to eligible associations and organisations despite more applications received. According to Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin, the distribution of the grants needs to be fair for recipients to carry out activities and community programmes. “We receive a lot of applications from associations and committees for the MRP grants every year for beneficial activities, programmes in the community,” he said yesterday at a ceremony to present MRP grants at SUPP Senadin office yesterday. “The amount may not be enough to cover ...