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KUCHING : The Sarawak government remains committed to religious inclusiveness by supporting diverse religious communities and recognising their role in preserving cultural heritage and strengthening social harmony.

Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said religious institutions played an important role in sustaining faith, preserving cultural heritage, strengthening community relationships and promoting social harmony.

He said the establishment of the Unit for Other Religions (UNIFOR) reflected the government’s commitment to supporting the needs of Sarawak’s diverse religious communities.

The initiative, he said, reflects the government’s belief that every religious community should have an environment where it could practise its faith and preserve its traditions.

“We do not expect everyone to practise the same religion, nor do we seek to make every community culturally identical.

“What we ask is that we respect one another’s beliefs, appreciate our respective traditions, and recognise that every community contributes to the richness of Sarawak,” he said.

Abang Johari said this in his speech text, which was read by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian during the official opening ceremony of Qing Shan Yan Tian Hou Temple at Ching San Yan Mazu Temple, Kampung Muara Tebas, here today (Oct 18).

Abang Johari added that religious and cultural institutions such as Qing Shan Yan Tian Hou Temple also have an important role in bringing people together and promoting understanding.

“Apart from serving their respective communities, they can also promote understanding, encourage goodwill and provide opportunities for people of different backgrounds to come together,” he said.

He added that the government would continue to uphold its inclusive approach, as sustainable progress could not be measured solely by economic achievements or physical development.

“In Sarawak, these principles resonate strongly with the values that have long shaped our society. We believe that harmony is built not by eliminating our differences, but by recognising, respecting and embracing them as part of our collective strength.

“It has shaped our identity, enriched our social fabric and cultivated a society in which mutual respect, tolerance and peaceful coexistence are deeply embedded in our way of life,” he said.

Citing the Kuching Hokkien Association as an example of community harmony, he noted that the association had employed three local Malay colleagues for nearly 20 years.

He said their longstanding service demonstrated how trust, respect and friendship could develop among people of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

“This is the kind of Sarawak we must continue to nurture, where people of different backgrounds work together, build friendships and feel that they belong,” he said.

He added that unity was reflected in everyday interactions, workplaces, neighbourhoods and friendships, rather than being confined to official functions and policy statements.

“I believe Qing Shan Yan Tian Hou Temple will serve not only as a sacred place of worship for devotees, but also as an important centre for preserving traditional Chinese culture, promoting the values associated with Mazu and fostering a stronger sense of belonging within the wider community,” he added.