Consider peculiarities of water villages — Awg Tengah
The federal government should give leeway to the fire victims of water villages without land required to be considered for government housing schemes compared to the criteria for conventional landed property or villages in the country.
Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said this at the presentation of aid to 40 affected families of the Kampung Tengah fire in Awat Awat on Aug 10.
“I don’t want this unique traditional village character to be lost, but, at the same time, we must also consider resettlement if the need arises for the fire victims to benefit from this government assistance,” he said.
He said the uniqueness of this centuries-old traditional village at Awat Awat had to be streamlined with the reality that was not the typical riverine but water village, and this should be considered by the federal government which traditionally required at least a temporary occupational licence or land title to qualify for housing schemes.
Awang Tengah said he had written to Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Seri Mohd Safiee Apdal for funds to construct houses and allocation for outboard engines for the fishermen of Kampung Tengah in Awat Awat who were victims of a fire last month.
He said he would also be holding a discussion with the head of families of their plans, fire safety features and other salient aspects, advising them to provide the district office with a list of items which include outboard engines
I don’t want this unique traditional village character to be lost, but, at the same time we must also consider resettlement if the need arises for the fire victims to benefit from this government assistance. Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment
and other needs.
“I know it is not easy for the fire victims, and not easy to get assistance immediately as it involves various government agencies, and I hope you all can be patient a little longer,” he told the fire victims.
Tengah even said the chief minister who was informed of their predicament had assured them of appropriate assistance.
He said he preferred that leeway was given by the federal ministry for the houses to be rebuilt on the old site to retain the unique character of Awat Awat fishing village.
“If that is not possible, then the new houses could still be built at a site not too far away,” he said referring to the resettlement scheme across the river where lots are still available vis- à-vis the sentiment of fire victims of rebuilding according to the previous size and design in the village.
Awg Tengah added that water pumps would be purchased for use by voluntary mobile fire-fighting units of water villages in Lawas District.
“I will discuss with the Fire and Rescue Department on the set-up of the units.”
Meanwhile, Lawas PWD engineer Norman Jan said the department was currently undertaking efforts to replace all the old leaky pipes to Awat Awat by next year.
He said in response to query from the local community on water supply problems affecting Awat Awat.
Awang Tengah meanwhile said he had instructed PWD to replace the burst pipes and send treated water by lorry tankers to the affected people pending the replacement project taking off.
The minister later presented cash assistance from an anonymous donor and Awat Awat Mosque Charitable Board to the village disaster committee to alleviate their sufferings.