Huge differences in allocations for religious buildings in Malaysia

But who am I to question it? However, I see a positive sign out of it. When some faiths have no funds to build any building, they have to come together as a community to work for the money. Over where I am, a doctor wrote a book on health and donate it to be sold, a nice gentleman wrote several books, youths wash cars to raise funds, younger children selling bookmarks, the ladies cook and organise food fairs, nurses hold health checks, corporate companies donated gifts to be used as lucky draws and practically, every layer of the community do something to raise funds for our own building.

So, I see it as a blessing. The driving force that makes people come together, to build God’s kingdom. In the end, our their lives are enriched. And not only the church building is materialised with their efforts, the brotherhood and sisterhood of the different Malaysian races (who are Christians or supporter of the cause) are so much closer.

When you have personally involved in a project to raise funds for a building, you automatically feel you are part of the community and devotion and faith is strengthened. I know if I have a gleaming building, not built with my own efforts, I will see it as cold bricks and stones. But if it is a humble building, where the cost of every bricks come from generous donors, hardworking fundraisers and cemented by the determination of the faithfuls, I know I will treasure it more because it is a symbol of human unity and an indication of God’s marvelous ‘gel that bind us together’ .

Thursday July 3, 2008 MYT 3:19:54 PM
Parliament: RM428m to build mosques
KUALA LUMPUR: The Government has allocated a total of RM428mil to build mosques and suraus, and RM8.1mil to build churches, kuils and temples, said Datuk Mohd Johari Baharom, deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in his written reply to Nga Kor Ming (DAP - Taiping).

The Government spent RM3.93mil for kuils, RM3.16mil for temples and RM1.6mil for churches.

Such allocations for the years 2009 and 2010 would be determined by the Government later, he said.

Since 1991, he said the Prime Minister had allocated RM1mil for the physical development of churches and temples and RM1mil for kuils starting from the year 2000.

A co-ordinating unit under the Prime Minister’s Department would approve the applications for non-Muslim projects, he explained.

(The screenshot and news taken from The Star)

Like what I said in the opening sentence.  Who am I to question?  I am merely expressing what I see.  So….?

Tags: malaysia, politics