Kota Kinabalu: Each Malaysian family affected by the Kampung Numbak fire received RM3,000 in assistance and also new hope as the State Government announced that it will help to rebuild their homes.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor announced the assistance when he visited the fire victims at the temporary evacuation centre (PPS) at Dewan Serbaguna Likas on Monday.
He said the aid comprised RM1,000 each from the State Government through the Sabah State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN), Federal Government and Yayasan Kebajikan Sabah (YKS).
A total of 110 Malaysian heads of households were affected, with 73 accommodated at Dewan Damai PPS and another 37 at Dewan Serbaguna Likas.
Hajiji also announced that the State Government would provide materials and equipment worth RM20,000 to each affected Malaysian head of household to help rebuild homes destroyed in the fire.
He said the rebuilding effort would be coordinated by the State Secretary together with City Hall (DBKK), including determining whether the houses should be rebuilt at the original site or elsewhere.
On humanitarian grounds, he said the Government would also provide RM1,000 to each affected non-Malaysian head of household, together with food and other necessities.
Meanwhile, Hajiji said the Philippines’ plan to upgrade Balabac Island for United States military purposes had nothing to do with Malaysia and should not cause concern in Sabah.
“Do not make an issue out of it. The United States is establishing a military base in the Philippines, on Balabac Island. That is Philippine territory. It has nothing to do with Malaysia or anyone else,” he said.
He said he was not aware of the objective behind the proposed military base but urged the public to view the development positively, noting it could be linked to the United States’ need to maintain a military presence in the eastern region.
Hajiji stressed that Sabah would not be affected by developments on Balabac Island.
