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MIRI – A ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) lawmaker has acknowledged that it is crucial for the large population of rural folk in longhouses across Sarawak to be protected by fire insurance.
Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau told The Vibes today that he is trying to arrange such insurance coverage for the more than 300 longhouses in his constituency in the interior of northern Sarawak.
“Yes, it is high time for longhouses to be protected by fire insurance,” he told The Vibes.
“We are seeing more of such fire outbreaks in rural longhouses that often cause total devastation.”
This comes in the wake of a tragic inferno that razed a longhouse colony in Ulu Belaga, some 50km from Bakun Dam, leaving some 700 natives homeless.
The victims of the Uma Sambop longhouse blaze were among the natives relocated there about 25 years ago due to the construction of the dam in the rainforest there.
“The latest incident in Uma Sambop longhouse shows just how severe a longhouse fire can be,” said Ngau.
He added that he is in discussion with his constituents in rural areas on how to provide Takaful insurance for them.
However, this is an enormous task due to the massive logistical challenges, as well as the financial resources needed.
“I agree that the elected representatives must work out a workable solution whereby we help the rural folks to secure this critical insurance so that in the event of fire tragedies, they will be able to get compensation,” he said.
Ngau is from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, the backbone of Sarawak’s ruling GPS coalition.
Victims can’t claim compensation as private insurance firms refuse to cover rural longhouses
Yesterday, Sarawak PKR information chief Abun Sui had called on the state government to provide fire insurance coverage under the Takaful Fire Insurance Scheme for the population of a million people living in the 6,000 plus rural longhouses in the state.
Since private insurance companies do not want to provide such protection to rural longhouses, the state government must take up the responsibility, he had said.
He had told The Vibes that the national Takaful Insurance Scheme is the avenue that can be used to protect folks in rural longhouses in the event of tragedies.
He said there had been proposals regarding the matter aired by rural folks to state assembly representatives and many of the elected lawmakers had also agreed to the idea.
However, until today, nothing has materialised, he had said.
“This matter of insurance coverage against fire is one of utmost urgency but it seems that state government elected representatives continue to make empty promises year after year,” said the PKR man.
“Usually, the personal losses are total and there is no way for these fire victims to claim compensation as private sector insurance companies refuse to cover rural longhouses.
“Under such circumstances, it is the task of the state government to arrange with Takaful to provide such fire insurance coverage for the rural longhouses.
“The GPS state government boasts of billions in its state revenue yearly. Surely the GPS elected representatives can spare a small sum to help protect rural longhouses in their state constituencies with fire insurance.” – The Vibes, July 16, 2022