Channelled through the Sarawak government’s unit for other religions (Unifor), the funds were presented by Sarawak’s food industry, commodity, and regional development minister Stephen Rundi Utom.

SJK Methodist (M) Sibu received the highest amount at RM300,000, followed by SMK Tong Hua, Meradong (RM200,000); SK Methodist Anglo-Chinese, Sarikei (RM176,361); SJK(C) Su Kwong, Sarikei (RM150,000); SJK(C) Tong Hua, Meradong (RM150,000); and SMK Methodist, Sibu (RM125,999).

Rundi said the government not only provides support for the physical development of non-Islamic religious institutions, including churches and cemetery land applications, but also plays a broader role in assisting the government in managing non-Islamic institutions in Sarawak.

He said the government is working on establishing a new, larger cemetery for the Christian community in Bintulu.

“We need about 60ha, which has been requested by the Sarawak Unifor charitable trust from the land and survey department,” he said during the cheque presentation ceremony to the schools today.

Rundi said the proposed larger cemetery will be built in Sebauh as there is no land available within Bintulu for a new Christian cemetery.

He said the new cemetery is necessary due to the increasing population in Bintulu, noting that many people migrate to the town for work and eventually settle there.