KUCHING – Parti Sarawak Bersatu’s Baru Bian has denounced the director of the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) based in the Chief Minister’s Office, who reportedly distributed funds totalling RM1 million during his visits to Lawas and Trusan last week.
Bian – who is defending the Ba’kelalan seat as incumbent in the upcoming state election – cited an article from a local news portal that said Unifor director Richard Lon had issued cheques worth RM1 million to 41 centres of the Borneo Evangelical Mission (BEM).
Bian said in a statement he was informed that a total of RM3.21 million will be distributed to 80 BEM churches in Trusan and Lawas, both polling districts of Ba’kelalan.
“Photos of the news article labelled with the word ‘Rasuah’ (bribery) are being viralled in social media.
“This is a deplorable act of attempted vote-buying. Many of the ordinary church leaders I met are unhappy about this fund distribution programme.
“There is nothing wrong with churches receiving these funds from the government, but the timing of this programme is questionable and raises many red flags. When there are over 800 BEM churches in Sarawak, why is it that only those in Lawas and Trusan are being given money in the week just before the election?” he asked.
Bian, who is also Selangau MP, said it does not take a genius to figure out that the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition is trying to buy votes from the predominantly Christian voters in Ba’kelalan.
He said it is disappointing for GPS to stoop so low by using Unifor for its political gains.
“Their desperation to win is evident for all to see. The choice of venue for the presentation of cheques is deplorable, too. Instead of community halls, they organised the distribution of such allocations at various churches.”
Bian said this infiltration of churches by agents of politics has desecrated and defiled the sacred sanctuaries.
“Clearly, these GPS politicians do not have any scruples, and this undignified attempt at vote-buying has tarnished the image of Unifor.
“It has even created suspicion about the motives for the setting up of this unit. Perhaps, the motives were not as altruistic as they were made out to be.
“In fact, there are many who have said that it is inappropriate to set up such a unit, calling it ‘Unit for Other Religions’, which actually lumps together other religions besides Islam in one group.”
He said since there is no official religion in Sarawak, all religions here should be treated equally, instead of a purported “main” one and the “others”.
“Over the past few years, Dayaks have been protesting (against) being labelled ‘Lain-lain’ or ‘Others’ in official documents. The existence of Unifor presents an analogous situation – why are we also being labelled ‘Others’ by the GPS government?”
Asked if Unifor had given funds to churches before during off-election season, Baru said: “Yes, I heard funds were given, but not this huge an amount, and especially not to my constituency. I do not know about other areas.”
He said during the last Sarawak election in 2016, the Barisan Nasional government then had tried to buy votes as well.
“Two days before polling, several federal ministers visited Lawas to announce that the federal government had approved RM5.5 million towards equipment and repair of 110 churches in the Ba’kelalan constituency.
“This blatant attempt to corrupt the voters of Ba’kelalan was roundly condemned by the upright church leaders and principled people of my constituency. I am confident that voters in Ba’kelalan are wise enough to know the political agenda when it comes to visit them in the form of money, and I urge them to condemn such mischievous ways of trying to buy votes.
“Let us continue to hold on to the value system that our people are known for to uphold justice and righteousness, in accordance with the teachings of the Bible. We must reject those who have no regard or respect for the sanctity of our church and faith, and think so little of us that they attempt to put a price on our self-respect and loyalty.” – The Vibes, December 13, 2021
