KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor today visited victims of the Kampung Numbak fire and handed over RM3,000 in assistance to each Malaysian head of household (KIR) to help ease the burden on affected families.
The assistance comprises RM1,000 from the State Government through the Sabah State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN), RM1,000 from the Federal Government and RM1,000 from Yayasan Kebajikan Sabah (YKS).
“I would like to announce that the government is providing RM3,000 in assistance to each Malaysian KIR to ease their burden- RM1,000 from the State Government, RM1,000 from the Federal Government and RM1,000 from YKS,” he told reporters after visiting victims of the Numbak fire at the temporary evacuation centre (PPS) at Dewan Serbaguna Likas here today.
A total of 110 KIR, all Malaysian citizens, were affected by the Kampung Numbak fire, with 73 KIR housed at the Dewan Damai PPS and another 37 at the Dewan Serbaguna Likas PPS.
Hajiji also announced that the Government would assist Malaysian victims by providing materials and equipment worth RM20,000 to each affected KIR to help rebuild their homes destroyed in the fire.
He said the rebuilding of the houses would be coordinated by the State Secretary together with Kota Kinabalu City Hall, including determining whether the houses would be rebuilt elsewhere or at the original site.
He said the assistance for rebuilding homes would be provided to each Malaysian KIR, similar to the approach taken in assisting fire victims in other areas, including Kudat recently.
Meanwhile, Hajiji said that on humanitarian grounds, the Government would also provide RM1,000 in assistance to each affected non-Malaysian KIR, in addition to food and other necessities.
In another development, he 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 establishing the military base, but the people should view the development positively as it might be related to the United States’ need to maintain a military base in the eastern region.
Hajiji also stressed that Sabah would not be affected by developments on the island.-pr/BNN
