The devastating Kampung Bahagia fire, which destroyed 1,000 homes, has exposed critical fire safety gaps in Sabah’s water villages and sparked demands for stronger prevention measures.
PETALING JAYA: The devastating blaze that tore through Sandakan’s Kampung Bahagia on Sunday, destroying nearly 1,000 homes and displacing more than 9,000 residents, has exposed the urgent fire risks long associated with Sabah’s water villages and prompted renewed calls for stronger prevention measures.
Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye described the inferno as “an extraordinary fire disaster”, saying the sheer scale of destruction should serve as a wake-up call for authorities and communities.
“As far as I can recollect, there has never been a single fire disaster that destroyed about 1,000 houses and left thousands homeless in one incident.”
He stressed that fire prevention cannot be treated solely as an emergency response once a blaze erupts, but must be approached as a broader safety challenge involving awareness, preparedness and access to basic protection tools.
He also urged the Fire and Rescue Department to intensify preventive efforts in vulnerable settlements by expanding community education on fire risks and early response actions.
“The people there must also be prepared to take part in any fire prevention effort or campaign that the Fire and Rescue Department is prepared to carry out. They must work together with the department to help prevent fires.”
He noted that one critical gap is the lack of fire prevention equipment in water villages, where residents often cannot afford basic tools.
Lee called for closer collaboration between the department and federal government to supply fire extinguishers and ensure residents are trained to use them.
“It is not enough just to talk about awareness. The question is whether there are fire extinguishers, whether there is allocation to provide them and whether people are taught how to use them.”
He added that long-term solutions must involve coordination between state and federal agencies, with emphasis on practical safety measures and humanitarian support.
He acknowledged the added complexity of assisting residents without Malaysian citizenship, but stressed that immediate priorities must remain safety and aid for all affected.
Sandakan police chief ACP George Abd Rakman confirmed that the incident was the largest fire ever recorded in the district, affecting 1,000 of the 1,200 stilt houses in Kampung Bahagia.
The area was declared a disaster zone at 4am on Sunday, with relief centres opened to register victims and distribute assistance.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the federal government is working closely with Sabah authorities to provide immediate relief and temporary shelter, underscoring the national commitment to support those impacted by the tragedy.
