Firefighting made difficult during Jalan Ewe Hai fire, says MP
KUCHING: Firefighting was made difficult during the most recent incident that destroyed five shophouses at Jalan Ewe Hai, Carpenter Street here, said Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii.
According to him, one of the issues that day was illegal parking, which made the task of extinguishing the fire even more complicated.
He said this to reporters here yesterday during the presentation of cheque to 15 victims of the March 8 incident.
In this regard, Yii called upon the public to play more responsible roles, and also for the owners of old buildings to constantly monitor their wiring systems to ensure that they would comply with the standard requirements.
“In the event that the buildings undergo any physical changes or renovations, the owners must ensure that they meet the safety requirements or have permission to do so,” he added.
In addition, he also urged the authorities to service the fire hydrants and ensure that all extinguishers were working. “The public must now be more vigilant in view of the coming hot and dry weather conditions,” he stressed. On the cheque presentation proper, Yii said Bandar Kuching Service Centre disbursed a total of RM59,800 in allocations to the 15 fire victims. “Depending on the categories in which they are listed – insured owners, tenants who lost businesses and profits, or simply tenants – they would get different amounts.”
Meanwhile, the Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen, who is Stampin MP and Padungan assemblyman, said the sum from Bandar Kuching Service Centre might be small, but to some extent, it would help to alleviate some burden off the victims during these difficult times.