KUCHING – Petroleum Sarawak Berhad has contributed RM1 million to the Sarawak Unit for Other Religions Charitable Trust, a move set to expand education and welfare programmes across the state.
The cheque was presented at a handover ceremony held here today. Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who chairs SUCT, accepted the donation on behalf of the trust.
He described the financial injection as a catalyst that will allow SUCT to roll out more community-focused initiatives, particularly in rural schools.
“With this financial support from PETROS, SUCT will be able to further expand the implementation of activities that focus on improving education, especially in rural areas,” he said.
Uggah noted that between 2025 and 2026, the trust successfully carried out 26 programmes covering welfare, religious activities and direct aid to mission schools.
The assistance delivered to mission schools included essential furniture and electrical equipment, helping institutions meet their daily operational needs.
He stressed that the new funding will allow SUCT to intensify these efforts and deliver a wider reach.
In particular, Uggah highlighted the trust’s growing emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education in rural mission schools.
He said lifting performance in these disciplines is crucial for levelling the playing field for students in less accessible areas.
“Efforts to strengthen the STEM field in rural mission schools are important to help improve educational performance and ensure that students in the areas concerned also have the opportunity to develop in these fields,” he added.
The RM1 million will also support SUCT’s broader role in coordinating assistance for non-Muslim houses of worship and community-driven initiatives throughout Sarawak.
PETROS Chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Hamid Bugo said the contribution was a reflection of the state-owned oil and gas company’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable development.
He also emphasised the importance of achieving long-term impact for the communities served.
The trust has long been an instrument of the Sarawak government’s inclusive approach, channelling resources to non-Muslim religious bodies and mission schools that often operate with constrained budgets.
This latest partnership with PETROS is expected to strengthen educational foundations in the interior, where access to quality learning materials remains a persistent challenge.
Over the years, SUCT has steadily widened its programme portfolio, moving from basic welfare aid to structured educational interventions.
The focus on STEM is seen as timely, given the state’s ambitions to build a skilled workforce capable of supporting its digital and green economy agenda.
By equipping rural mission schools with better tools and targeted programmes, the trust hopes to spark greater interest and achievement in technical fields.
At the same time, the continued support for religious and spiritual activities underscores Sarawak’s model of unity in diversity.
The handover ceremony gathered senior officials from both organisations, signalling strong institutional backing for the initiatives that will follow.
Education observers have long noted that small injections of targeted funding can yield significant improvements when channelled to under-resourced schools.
SUCT’s track record of directing aid to where it is most needed lends confidence that the fresh funds will be deployed effectively.
With the latest allocation, the trust is expected to announce a new slate of activities in the coming months, tailored to address specific gaps identified in rural areas.
The partnership also illustrates how state enterprises can align their corporate responsibility efforts with government-led development goals.
Both SUCT and PETROS have indicated that monitoring mechanisms will be in place to measure the outcomes of funded programmes.
The ultimate aim remains to create lasting benefits that go beyond one-off donations and instead build capacity within communities.
Sarawak’s approach to interfaith harmony and inclusive development continues to draw interest from other parts of Malaysia.
The work of SUCT, backed by both public funds and corporate contributions, is a central pillar of that approach.
As the trust prepares to scale up its operations, the RM1 million from PETROS arrives at a pivotal moment for rural education and welfare in the state.
