The state government has approved the creation of 17 new posts of various grades including a full-time director, Deputy Chief Minister Douglas Uggah Embas said in his winding-up speech at the Sarawak state assembly today.
“This is a full-fledged unit, equivalent in status with other units in the chief minister’s department,” Douglas said.
The agency is the brainchild of the late Adenan Satem and was also in response to issues raised by DAP’s Bukit Assek assemblywoman Irene Chang, he said.
The non-Islamic affairs unit is set up to evaluate, propose and formulate policies, laws and regulations with regard to non-Islamic religious affairs in the state.
It would also act as a focal point for various religious bodies to liaise and interact with the state or federal government agencies when it comes to various matters, including their application for land and funding for the construction of buildings.
The unit has received eight approvals for land application for the construction of various non-Islamic religious institutions.
Douglas said the state government has been processing 30 applications for funding for both new construction and maintenance of existing buildings.
The state cabinet met on April 27 to formally approve the structure of the new unit. The agency is in the process of recruiting staff to fill all the approved posts.
Sarawak has a majority Christian population with only less than 25% of them Muslim, according to official statistics.