KUCHING: The fire victims of Kampung Segubang in Batu Kawa here will be relocated to their new homes at HDC Flat in Batu Gong tomorrow (Aug 18).
Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah thanked the Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) for the relocation of the victims.
Up until Tuesday (Aug 17), the fire victims were staying temporarily at Min Lit Secondary School hall before moving to their new home.
“The MPP will accommodate these victims to 23 units at the HDC Flat where they will be paying RM150 monthly,” she said during her visit to present aid worth RM50,900 to the fire victims at Min Lit Secondary School today (Aug 17).
She disclosed that the recent fire that occurred on Aug 7 at 7.26pm had affected 79 people from 20 families.
“Following the day of the incident, we channeled packed food to the victims daily under the Social Welfare Department (JKM) from Aug 8 onwards together with mattresses, pillows and blankets donated by Kuching and Padawan Junior Chamber International (JCI).
“Meanwhile, we also assisted in the form of pocket money worth RM7,900; kitchen equipment (RM14,000); bedding (RM6,300); daily clothes (RM15,800); and schooling assistance (RM2,300),” she revealed.
In line with this, she also mentioned that Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has approved the fire victim scheme to rebuild the victims’ houses.
“However, the scheme will be channeled to the district council for them to hire contractors to rebuild the houses for the victims.
“The household heads would need to deal with the district office along with the Land and Survey Department to find out which locations they can use to build the new houses,” she added.
Fatimah stated that as of July this year, JKM has spent up to RM56.3 million to assist 837,445 victims from 279,466 families hit by disasters in 818 different cases.
“Flood led to the highest number of disasters in the state so far with 406 cases, followed by drought (278), fire (76), storm (46) and landslide (12),” she said.
She also mentioned that in the beginning of this year, the same group of victims was also hit by flood.
