Fire: Most houses, factories in KK not equipped — Hiew
KOTA KINABALU: Luyang assemblyman Dr Hiew King Cheu said he has found that most houses and factories in the state capital are not equipped with the very basic and simplest fire-fighting equipment like fire extinguishers and buckets of sand.
He said basic fire-fighting equipment should be installed in homes and factories as they are not very expensive. These equipment would become very handy in the event of an outbreak of fire.
When compared to the cost of a whole house being burned down, he said the cost of the fire-fighting equipment would be very minimal.
“So it would be better to prevent and safeguard against fire risk rather than to lose everything unprepared,” he said.
Dr Hiew was commenting on the recent cases of houses and shops that were burned down in Kota Kinabalu, with the latest being the two houses near Taman Deluxe in Kepayan yesterday.
The numerous fire incidents every year that burnt down houses and factories in Sabah had created huge losses, even lives, he said.
In view of this, he urged the public to be cautious and endeavour to prevent the outbreak of fire at all times.
This basic safety requirements set by the Fire and Rescue Department must be strictly adhered without exception, he said.
An owner of one of the houses, Bonny Fong, lost his house and four cars to the fire, which is believed to have started from the kitchen in the morning hours.
Fong said it was fortunate that his nine-year-old son escaped the fire unhurt.
Representatives of Barisan Nasional component parties, Liau Su Sang and Stephen Jimbangan visited the family of the fire victims and Fong yesterday, and informed them that they would be making arrangements to seek donations to assist them.