THE Sabah state government has announced immediate financial assistance for victims of a major fire in Kampung Bahagia, Batu Sapi, after a pre-dawn blaze on Sunday destroyed nearly 1,000 homes and left an estimated 9,000 people homeless.
Each affected household head has been allocated RM2,000 in initial aid, comprising RM1,000 from the state government and a further RM1,000 from Yayasan Kebajikan Sabah.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the government deeply sympathised with those affected, describing the incident as one of the largest fire disasters involving a settlement in the state.
“Today I went to the site to assess the situation. We hope this assistance will help ease their burden at this time,” Daily Express reported him saying.
Additional assistance has also been provided through Sabah Zakat Centre and Sabah Baitulmal Corporation as part of coordinated relief efforts.
Authorities said the extent of damage was severe, with almost the entire village reported to have been destroyed in the blaze. A detailed assessment of the total number of victims is expected to be completed within one to two weeks.
Hajiji said the state government is also considering long-term redevelopment options for the affected area, including the possibility of land reclamation for new housing projects, though he noted that such plans would require substantial financial investment.
He added that the government would wait for a full report from the Sandakan District Disaster Management Committee and recommendations from the Sandakan Municipal Council before making any final decisions.
“We will first receive the report from the Sandakan District Disaster Management Committee on their alternative proposals. From there, we will take the necessary action,” he said.
Six temporary evacuation centres have been activated to house displaced residents. - April 21, 2026
