129 Sarawak missionary schools receive RM20 million in infrastructure upgrades

KUCHING, 16 Oct: A total of 129 aid checks amounting to RM20 million were handed over to missionary schools across Sarawak through the First Phase Sarawak Missionary Schools Fund 2026 for upgrading infrastructure and educational facilities.

Deputy Prime Minister of Sarawak, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embassy, said the aid was part of RM30 million allocation provided by the Government of Sarawak for pilgrimage schools this year.

He, who is also the Minister Responsible for the Unit for Interreligious Affairs (UNIFOR), said that RM10 million will be spent later to implement a programme of improvement of academic performance of pilgrim students.

"Since six years ago, the Prime Minister has approved an allocation to help missionary schools across Sarawak. After five years, he allocated about RM20 million, while this year RM30 million.

"What we are announcing this morning is for the first phase, RM20 million", he said as it was met after the Sarawak Pilgrim Schools Aid Fund First Phase 2026 Delivery Check Meeting at his office in the Sarawak State Assembly (DUN) building, here today.

According to Uggah, the distribution of aid is carried out through a committee which determines the allocation of funds to their respective schools or religious bodies in order to ensure that aid is distributed fairly.

He said the representative of the religious body that received the checks would coordinate aid delivery to the schools concerned.

Reviewing the academic performance improvement programme, he said that efforts were important to ensure that pioneer school students also have the opportunity to further their studies through Sarawak Free Higher Education Scheme (FTES).

"From our study, a solid step must be taken to ensure that they also have the opportunity to get better education.

"Our hope is that students from the missionary school will also have the opportunity to enjoy this facility. However, to achieve this, they need to improve their academic performance", he said.

Out of the total First Phase aid, Anglican, Diocese of Kuching represented by Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn received 50 checks totalling RM7,751,900.

Roman Catholic, Archdiocese of Kuching represented by Datuk Dr Penguang Mangil received 32 checks totalling RM4,961,216, while Roman Catholic, Diocese of Sibu represented by Datuk Snowdan Lawan received 23 checks totaling RM3,565,874.

The Roman Catholic, Diocese of Miri represented by Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin received seven cheques totalling RM1,085,266, while the Methodist, Sarawak Iban Annual Conference represented by Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi received eight checks totaling RM1,240,402.

Meanwhile, Methodist, Sarawak Chinese Annual Conference represented by Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom received nine checks totalling RM1,395,342.