BINTANGOR, Oct 27: Mary Itah, Brendan Agol and Bata Untol were all smiles and deep gratitude when they received the keys to their newly rebuilt houses from Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Sarawak, yesterday.
Mary, 46, Brendan, 50, and Bata, 71, were beneficiaries under the Urban Poverty Eradication Programme initiative for the less fortunate.
The trio’s longhouse was destroyed by fire last year. The new houses were built on their respective land.
According to Bomba Zone 4 chief, PgKB II Wan Kamarudin Wan Ahmad, the construction was carried out entirely by 12 firefighters on a voluntarily basis.
The firefighters from Sibu, Sungai Merah, Kanowit and Bintangor fire stations were tasked to build two wooden houses for Mary and Brendan, and one concrete house for Bata.
The construction began on October 30, last year. It took them about five months to complete the project, due to unforeseen weather and soil conditions.
Each house, measuring 20 x 30 feet, cost about RM40,000. It comes with two bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, one bathroom and one toilet.
Thanking the state government for the corporation to help rebuild and repair houses, Bomba Sarawak director Khirudin Drahman said the programme had benefited many unfortunate people and also positively impacted the local communities.
“As long as the government continues to assign such said 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 low-income and poor group,” Khirudin said.
He also thanked his firefighters for their extra work and effort in building the houses on a voluntarily basis.
“Because of them, these three families can now live in safer houses with a better and more conducive environment,” Khirudin added.
MP Sarikei Ding Kuong Hiing also thanked Bomba Sarawak for helping the state government with manpower to build these houses for fire victims.
“Thank you for your concern and willingness to help the local communities. Please let me know if there are any more in the future. I will assist in any way that I can,” Ding said. — DayakDaily
