In Sarawak, PM doles out funds for church, mosque

S'WAK POLLS Two places of worship in Taman Malihah, Kuching - the Darul Furqan Mosque and Chapel Anglican - today received RM8 million from the federal and state governments.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak handed over a RM3 million mock cheque to the Darul Furqan Mosque and another RM1 million to the Chapel Anglican on behalf of the federal government at the Kuching International Airport, today.

Sarawak Housing and Tourism Minister Abang Johari Openg, who represented Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem, handed out identical contributions to the Darul Furqan Mosque and Chapel Anglican Church, from the state government.

Darul Furqan Mosque chairperson Mashap Alek, who received the cheques, said the money was for rebuilding the mosque which was first built in 1994; while the Chapel Anglican chairperson Kana Grasi said the contribution was also to build a new church to replace the old chapel that was built in 1994.

Laptops for fifth formers

Earlier the prime minister said the government will implement a programme to supply laptop computers for fifth formers sitting for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination in Sarawak in a bid to bridge the digital gap and facilitate exposure to information technology among students.

He said the pilot project will benefit about 33,000 fifth formers in 188 secondary schools statewide.

He said the laptop computers would be supplied to each of the students either in the form of rental or loan.

"After completing their SPM examination, the students will pass on the computers to the next fifth formers. Hopefully this project will be able to witness a more outstanding academic performance," he said.

The prime minister announced this during a walkabout at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Ladong in Sebuyau, about three hours drive from Kuching.

Also present were Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rohani Abdul Karim.

- Bernama