Sabah govt, JKM to channel aid to Tawau fire victims

KOTA KINABALU - The Sabah government has directed the Department of Social Welfare (JKM) and the Tawau Municipal Council (MPT) to take early relief measures to assist victims affected by the Tawau fire incident.

Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the government would also find a way to help the affected victims.

"With God's willing, the government will find ways to help the victims of the Tawau fire.

"We have directed the JKM as well as the MPT to take action or early relief measures to the victims," he told reporters on Friday.

He said this when asked to comment on the government's action on the victims of a fire in a village on the water at Jaya Village Village Road, Stone 4, Tawau, on Thursday.

In the incident, an estimated 700 homes were burned down while 1,338 victims were identified to be affected.

However, as of this Saturday, only 317 of the total number of victims have been placed in two temporary evacuation centres (PPS), in Kampung Kinabutan Kecil Hall and Kampung Hidayat Batu 4, Tawau.

Meanwhile, the Tawau MP, Datuk Christina Liew who visited the fire victims on Friday also suggested that the affected victims should be placed at public housing projects (PPR).

"Prioritize the victims first and I will write a letter to the Sabah government on their behalf so that the victims can apply for a PPR home later," he said.

Earlier, Christina also announced RM10,000 cash allowance and food distribution to the victims of the fire.