Sabah govt channels assistance to Pulau Gaya fire victims

KOTA KINABALU: House building materials, food and temporary shelters were among the assistance provided by the state government to the fire victims of Kampung Lok Urai, Pulau Gaya, to help alleviate their burden.

Sabah Community Development and People's Well-being Minister Shahelmy Yahya said Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) is identifying the land status to provide building materials assistance to land that has been gazetted.

"DBKK's evaluation report will be ready in a week. We are also waiting for City Hall to get the records of the affected families whether they are citizens or non -citizens," he said after visiting the fire victims housed at a relief centre at Sembulan Multipurpose Hall, today.

Shahelmey said the state government through the General Welfare Services Department had provided tents as temporary accommodation and the victims can stay at the relief centres for three to seven days.

"We have also provided cooked food and a week's worth of food basket will be provided to villagers," he added.

In the incident at 8.32 pm last night, a total of 73 stilt houses in the water village were destroyed in a fire, leaving more than 200 residents homeless while the quick action of firefighters saved another 757 homes.

-- BERNAMA