By Nancy Nais
KUCHING, July 16: Self employed Anang Giranang used to stay in a house that was so dilapidated, it was deemed unsafe to live.
With no siblings and orphaned at the age of six, Anang, 44, took odd jobs in the village at Kampung Quap Dayak to make ends meet.
As he could not afford to rebuild his house, his name was then listed as one of the recipients for a new house under the Ministry of Housing and Local Government.
Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Sarawak was then tasked to implement the project, to build a two bedroom house for Anang with a budget of RM50,000.
Firefighters began constructing the new house on Christmas Day last year.
Located right next to his old house, it was completed on March 5, this year.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and movement control order, Bomba could not officiate the handing over of the house until today.
However, Anang had moved to the new house upon completion.
Today, the house was officially handed over to him by Bomba Malaysia director-general Datuk Mohammad Hamdan Wahid.
Mohammad Hamdan pointed out that the Rumah Sejahtera project had benefited many unfortunate people and also positively impacted the local communities.
“As long as the government continues to assign such projects to the department, Bomba will continue the noble work as this is one way for us to help ease the burden of those from the poor and low income group,” he assured.
He also thanked his firefighters for their extra work, efforts and time spent in building the house on a voluntarily basis.
“Now Anang can live in a house with a better conducive environment,” he added.
Mohammad Hamdan and Bomba Sarawak director Khirudin Drahman also presented a fire extinguisher to Anang.
Speaking to reporters after the event, Anang said he is grateful to the government and firefighters who have helped him.
“Thank you for giving me a new house. I sincerely appreciate this gift and can’t ask for more. It is comfortable and way beyond my expectation or imagination to ever own one like this.
This house has given me a new hope to work harder and perhaps one day I can find a woman to marry,” he said shyly.
With the help of village chief Bonita Andres, Anang is also receiving a monthly aid of RM200 from Sarawak Welfare Department.
Others who attended the event were Bomba director of Fire and Safety Edwin Galan Teruki, director of Development Othman Abdullah and director of Corporate division Siti Rohani Nadir from Putrajaya, with Sarawak deputy director Zainal Madasin and assistant director of operations Tiong Ling Hii.—DayakDaily
