Bintulu fire victims assured of assistance
BINTULU: Those left homeless by the New Year’s Eve fire at Kampung Dato here would receive the necessary support and assistance by the relevant agencies, assured acting Head of State Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar.
He pointed out that the needs and welfare of the fire victims would also be highlighted to the elected representatives concerned.
Asfia, who is also State Legislative Assembly Speaker said, each house owner affected by the incident was given RM2,500, while each affected tenant received RM500 cash per family as immediate assistance.
“Later, I will come back to discuss with the Resident’s Office, BDA (Bintulu Development Authority), with assistance from the relevant ADUNs (elected representatives) and MPs ( parliamentarians); after that, we would do a followup,” he told reporters after the presentation of his personal cash donation to the fire victims yesterday.
Asfia said he had just arrived in Miri to officiate at a countdown event there when he was informed of the incident.
“I rushed back to Bintulu to provide relief aid to these affected families.”
Seventy- five people from 17 families were left homeless after six wooden houses at Kampung Dato’ Jalan Masjid were destroyed in a 10am fire on Dec 31.
No casualties were reported in the incident. It is said that firefighters encountered some difficulties in controlling the situation given the changing winds, as well as the fact that the wooden houses were really close to one another.
However, they managed to control the fire from spreading to other nearby houses.
One of the affected residents Putra Alfian Abdullah, 48, who is currently staying at his grandmother’s house, was thankful to Allah that everybody was safe. His wife and son were in the house when fire broke out.
Upon receiving a call from his son around 10.45am that day, he rushed back from his workplace.
“I was stunned to see our 30year- old house where my wife and I, as well as my five children, have been staying in for nine years was
Later, I would come back to discuss with the Resident’s Office, BDA (Bintulu Development Authority), with assistance from the relevant ADUNs (elected representatives) and MP (parliamentarian); after that, we would do a follow-up. Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar, acting Head of State
destroyed,” he lamented, adding he estimated RM20,379 worth of his property went up in smoke that day.
Three of Putra Alfian’s children are still at school – one in Form 5, another in Form 3 and the youngest in Primary 6. All of their schooling items including school uniforms were destroyed.
Another resident Bujang Zaini, 67, said he was at the market when he heard about the fire.
“I have been renting here for more than 10 years. It is where my family of five has been staying.”
It is learned that of the six houses that were destroyed, three were rented out.
Marran Dabu, 50, who hails from Serian and has been renting one of the houses for the past two years, said he was working at a supermarket nearby when he spotted the thick smoke that appeared to coming from his area.
He rushed back and managed to grab some valuable documents and items. Marran has five children – two boys who are still at school and three daughters who are married.
“Now we need essential items like food and clothes, especially school uniforms for my two sons,” he said.
Like Marran, another tenant Andrew Jelui, 36, of Jelalong Tubau also saw the thick smoke.
“I was on my way to work. My wife told me that she was taking a bath during the incident and because of that, she was unable to save anything else. We lost the laptop computer belonging to my wife, her mobile phone and some jewellery pieces – all worth around RM8,000,” he said.
Sali Udau, 41, also from Jelalong Tubau, was also at his workplace when he was informed about the fire.
“At that time, I could not think of anything else but my wife and children. I have two children – one in Form 2 and another aged four. All schooling materials and important documents went up in smoke. However, I am thankful that my wife and children were safe.”
Sali said for now, they are all staying at his brother’s rented house.
He also said soon after the incident, the Bintulu Welfare Department came in and provided immediate assistance to the victims.
Agnes Bap, 39 – the tenant who has been renting there the longest for 20 years – said she just arrived home after taking her two children to SMK Baru for registration.
“I barely sat down when I heard people shouting ‘fire’. The burning house was too close to our unit – I managed to bring my children to safety,” she said.