By Nancy Nais
KUCHING, July 16: Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Malaysia has helped to repair and built 150 houses for the less fortunate since 2015 plans.
After officially handing over a newly built house today, Bomba director-general Datuk Mohammad Hamdan Wahid said the MySejahtera programme has several categories ranging from those who have lost their home due to fire, natural disaster, B40 group or hard core poor.
“We have been implementing this programme for quite sometime throughout the country. Our firefighters have built or repaired about 150 houses.
“For Sarawak, we’ve built six houses last year, the highest number compared with other states.
“This programme is meant to help the less fortunate community.We will help the people as much as we can. Allocation or budget comes from Ministry of Housing and Local Government, while our firefighters voluntarily build or repair the houses,” Mohammad Hamdan said after presenting the key to house owner Anang Giranang in Kampung Quap Dayak, today.
He added that newly built houses usually comes with two to three bedrooms, toilet, bathroom, kitchen and living room.
Mohammad Hamdan said the department will continue to study the rest of the applicants’ profile and they will most likely continue with house repairs this year.
As for next year, he revealed that the department plans to build at least 20 houses nationwide.
“However, it all depends on the budget and allocation given by the government and our manpower, bearing in mind that we have to prioritise the department’s core task, which is fire and rescue.
“Although building or repairing house are not in the job scope, our firefighters are excellent in other skills, such as carpentry. So we put aside this group of officers to focus on house building and repair, without compromising our core task and daily operations,” he added.
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 director Khirudin Drahman, deputy director Zainal Madasin and assistant director of operations Tiong Ling Hii.-DayakDaily
