BETONG, April 2: The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) will expedite aid requests from victims to swiftly rebuild their houses or longhouses destroyed by fire.
Its chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said that a state committee will promptly review requests once reports are received from the respective Resident Offices.
“The Resident Office will evaluate the necessary government assistance. Upon receiving their report, the SDMC committee will make a decision within a week,” he said in a statement today.
Regarding the assistance quota, Uggah mentioned that the Sarawak government offers up to RM70,000 for each affected house or unit within a longhouse.
“The Sarawak Welfare Department will be the first aid responder in giving basic daily necessities to the victims,” he added.
Uggah, also Deputy Premier, addressed these concerns during a visit to fire victim Charles Tegalang in Nanga Tiga of Layar, whose house and grocery shop were completely destroyed in a morning fire recently.
Accompanied by Betong member of parliament (MP) Dr Richard Rapu, Uggah also oversaw the allocation of a RM388,000 project for upgrading a farm road at Kebun Cina in Spaoh.
The project is funded by the Betong Division Development Agency (BDDA), which has set aside RM30 million to upgrade 73 oil palm, pepper, and rubber farm roads in the Bukit Saban areas from last year to this year.
Addressing another issue, Uggah, also Bukit Saban assemblyman, expressed concern over the theft of electronic components from communication towers in Bukit Saban and Layar.
He urged perpetrators to consider the consequences of their actions and called upon the police to swiftly investigate and apprehend those responsible.
“I hope those staying near towers will keep watch and keep their towers safe,” he urged. — DayakDaily
