Sibu (AsiaNews) –The Malaysian state of Sarawak has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting non-Muslim religious communities, with Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg praising churches, temples and other religious institutions as indispensable partners in education, social welfare and nation-building.
In a message delivered during a ceremony organised by the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) – the local government department responsible for assisting non-Muslim communities – ahead of Sarawak Day, which is celebrated on 22 July, the Chief Minister thanked the Christian, Buddhist, Taoist, Hindu, Sikh and Bahá’í communities for what he described as their unwavering contribution to strengthening social harmony and improving the lives of Sarawak’s citizens. “Religious institutions are much more than places of worship,” he said. “They also serve as centres for education, social welfare, humanitarian services and moral guidance.”
Abang Johari stated that Sarawak’s greatest strength lies not only in its economic achievements, but also in the moral values that bind its diverse communities together. “True prosperity is achieved when people live in peace, opportunities are shared equitably and social harmony continues to flourish,” he said. “Prosperity without unity is fragile. Development without harmony is incomplete.”
The Chief Minister recalled that, since the creation of Unifor in 2017, the state has maintained a policy of recognising and supporting non-Muslim religious communities through direct financial assistance. To date, the local government has allocated 685 million Malaysian ringgit (approximately 146 million euros – ed.) via Unifor. Of this sum, 565 million ringgit has been allocated to the construction, modernisation and maintenance of hundreds of churches, temples and other non-Muslim places of worship across the state, whilst 120 million ringgit has been allocated to missionary schools.
For the current year alone, the government has allocated 120 million ringgit to Unifor, including 20 million for missionary schools and a further 10 million to strengthen education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
A unique model in Malaysia
Sarawak’s approach stands out within Malaysia, where public funding for non-Muslim religious institutions has often been limited or managed differently by individual states. Established in 2017, Unifor is widely regarded as Malaysia’s first state agency dedicated to coordinating support for non-Muslim religions. Its creation formalised what Sarawak’s leaders have long described as the state’s commitment to religious equality and mutual respect.
The agency awards grants for the construction and restoration of churches, temples and other places of worship, whilst also supporting missionary schools that have served local communities for generations. Schools founded by missionaries remain an integral part of Sarawak’s educational landscape.
The state is home to over 220 such institutions, many of which were founded by Catholic, Anglican and Methodist missionaries more than a century ago. Even before the formation of Malaysia in 1963, these schools introduced formal education to many rural and indigenous communities and helped to train generations of teachers, civil servants, professionals and political leaders.
Today, they continue to educate tens of thousands of pupils from all ethnic and religious backgrounds, reflecting a tradition of openness that has characterised missionary education in Sarawak.
One of the largest Christian populations in South-East Asia
Sarawak is a unique case within Malaysia’s religious landscape.
Unlike Peninsular Malaysia, where Muslims form an overwhelming majority, this region has one of the most religiously diverse populations in the country. Although Islam is the single most widespread religion, Christians account for an estimated 40 to 45 per cent of the state’s 2.5 million inhabitants, making Sarawak home to one of the largest Christian populations in South-East Asia, excluding the Philippines and East Timor.
Christianity has deep historical roots in this state, dating back to the arrival of Anglican missionaries during the Brooke administration in the 19th century. Catholic missionaries, followed by Methodist and Evangelical missions, expanded their educational, healthcare and pastoral work throughout the state, particularly amongst indigenous communities.
Today, the Christian community comprises Catholics, Anglicans, Methodists, the Sidang Injil Borneo (SIB), Baptists, Presbyterians, Seventh-day Adventists, Pentecostal churches and other Protestant denominations. The Catholic Church alone has between 460,000 and 480,000 members, accounting for approximately 16–18 per cent of Sarawak’s population. It is organised into three ecclesiastical jurisdictions: the Archdiocese of Kuching, which serves western Sarawak and has approximately 217,000–240,000 Catholics; the Diocese of Sibu, with around 125,000–130,000 faithful; and the Diocese of Miri, which provides pastoral care for between 113,000 and 118,000 Catholics in northern Sarawak.
Diversity as a strength
A land of Malays, Chinese, Melanau and numerous indigenous peoples, including the Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu, Sarawak has long fostered a political culture that emphasises coexistence among different ethnic and religious communities. Churches and other religious institutions have played an important role beyond spiritual ministry, running schools, health services, social welfare programmes and humanitarian initiatives, particularly in remote inland regions where access to public services was once limited.
In recent years, the state’s leaders have increasingly highlighted this tradition of interfaith cooperation as one of Sarawak’s defining characteristics within Malaysia. Abang Johari’s latest commitment to continued support for non-Muslim religious communities reinforces this message, presenting religious diversity not as a challenge to be managed, but as a shared strength that contributes to social stability, educational opportunities and the state’s ongoing development.
For many Christians in Sarawak, the continued investment in churches and missionary schools is also seen as a recognition of a legacy that has shaped the state’s educational and social development for well over a century, whilst signalling that religious communities remain valued partners in building its future.
