Wan Junaidi pledges ongoing assistance to houses of worship
KUCHING: Natural Resources and Environment Minister Dato Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has pledged to continue assisting the committees of houses of worship – including those for non-Muslims – across the Santubong constituency, where he is the parliamentarian.
According to him, the Malaysian Constitution clearly states that while Islam is the official religion of the federation, other religions can be practised in peace and harmony.
“All houses of worship – be they mosques, churches or temples – must be regularly maintained and kept in good condition, since these are the places where the people worship their God and conduct activities slated for moulding the younger generation.
“Even in ‘ Rukun Negara’ ( National Principles), the first tenet is ‘ Kepercayaan Kepada Tuhan’ ( Belief in God),” he said at a fundraising dinner for St Nicholas Chapel Bandar Baru Samariang, at a restaurant here on Saturday.
Wan Junaidi said he had been assisting churches and chapels in the predominantly Iban areas across the Batang Lupar parliamentary constituency, where he once served as the MP.
For St Nicholas Chapel which caters for the Anglican congregation in Bandar Baru Samariang, Wan Junaidi said he would always assist them because he believed that an elected representative should help his or her constituents, irrespective of race, faith and background.
The minister later presented some funds to St Nicholas Chapel, received by its sub- deacon Engachok Siong.
Wan Junaidi also announced that the Public Works Department (JKR) would be instructed to carry out repair works on parts of the building affected by erosion and flooding.
“I had told them (the chapel committee) to identify the site first before looking for the
All houses of worship – be they mosques, churches or temples – must be regularly maintained and kept in good condition, since these are the places where the people worship their God and conduct activities slated for moulding the younger generation. Dato Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, Natural Resources and Environment Minister
funds to build it. After the site was found, I personally met the Prime Minister to tell him about the request for this chapel and other places of worship in my constituency.
“The Prime Minister was not hesitant – he released some funds for this purpose. We had to hard work hard to get it,” he said.
Wan Junaidi also said in recognition of his regular assistance to the houses of worship in the constituency, one temple in Lundu is now known as ‘Wan Junaidi’s Temple’ among the locals.
Meanwhile, Wan Junaidi also had good words for outgoing Anglican Bishop of Kuching Datuk Bolly Lapok, who would retire next month.
Earlier, Bolly thanked the minister for assisting St Nicholas Chapel, which was in need of funds to make the building more accommodating for the Anglican congregation at Bandar Baru Samariang. He said members of the congregation there were fortunate to have an elected representative like Wan Junaidi, who had been helping churches and other houses of worship despite being a Muslim.
He noted that in some constituencies, the chapels and churches were not receiving enough financial assistance from their elected representatives.
“We have a friend (in Wan Junaidi) who is acting out of his own generosity to do what is meaningful to us,” said Bolly.