KOTA KINABALU – Following the blaze that destroyed more than 70 houses in Kg Lok Urai, Gaya Island, leaders have raised concerns over fire safety readiness.
Former Sabah chief minister and Semporna MP Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal today said water villages in Gaya Island lack fire safety equipment, such as those installed near water villages off Semporna.
“We have raised this matter previously. Fire incidents involving water villages are not an unusual occurrence in Sabah. It has happened many times before. We need to take heed of such occurrences.
“Firemen will always face a tough time extinguishing fires if safety equipment are not in place.
“We should install fire safety equipment in all water villages,” he said during his visit to the Sembulan temporary shelter here today.
More than 200 people have been left homeless after last night’s blaze that destroyed 73 houses.
The victims are now being put up at the Likas and Sembulan community halls.
The Sabah opposition leader said the Gaya Island incident involved opposition-led constituencies – Tg Aru, Putatan and parts of Sepanggar.
Those constituencies are represented by Warisan’s vice-president Datuk Junz Wong (Tg Aru), PKR’s Awang Husaini Sahari (Putatan) and Warisan Youth chief Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman (Sepanggar).
Shafie said his party and the elected reps involved will distribute food supplies to victims of the blaze.
Meanwhile, Sabah Community Development and People's Well-being Minister Shahelmy Yahya, who also visited victims in Sembulan today, said they could stay at the shelter for three to seven days.
He added that food, drinks and other supplies will be provided to them until they can return to their village.
“City Hall here will have to evaluate if the villages can return home. It has to take into account their citizenship and the status of the land they are occupying.
“If the land has been gazetted as a settlement, then we will allow them to rebuild their houses. If not, they have to find another home,” said Shahelmy, adding that the evaluation report will be ready in a week.
Shahelmy said a week’s worth of food and a token will be given to villagers to help buy materials needed to rebuild their houses.
There are currently 10 families at the Sembulan community hall and two in Likas. – The Vibes, March 12, 2021
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