KUCHING, Feb 16: Machan assemblyman Allan Siden Gramong has pledged to pay the first year insurance premium for all the longhouses under his constituency.
Following the calls to encourage longhouses in Sarawak to take up insurance coverage, Allan said his move was to emphasise the importance of having insurance in the event of fire or other disasters befall the community.
“I fully support the idea of having insurance coverage for our longhouses. This is because we never know and cannot predict what will happen in the future, therefore you must be alert and prepare to protect your property from risks.
“To kickstart this good cause, I will pay for the first year insurance premium for all the longhouses under my ‘kawasan’ (constituency).
“The respective village JKKKs will continue (the insurance) from the second year onwards,” he said at the Allianz General Insurance Company (Malaysia) Bhd briefing at Rh Maling Nyapang in Sg Maong, Jalan Kanowit-Durin, here today.
Pos Malaysia Bhd is managing the plan, which consist of RM75 yearly premium per door (pintu) for a coverage of RM10,000.
It covers fire and natural disasters such as flood or stormy winds.
“RM75 per year (or RM6.25 per month) is reasonable. As such, all longhouses folks should should change their mindset (about insurance) and get one,” Allan said.
He acknowledged the consistent efforts of Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department, who have been going around to educate and create awareness on fire safety to the rural communities.
At the event, a team of firefighters led by officer Labang Busu conducted talks and demonstrations on how to use fire extinguishers in the event of a kitchen fire.
Allan presented six extinguishers to longhouse chiefs from Rh Maling Nyapang, Rh Besi Paong, Rh Bakar Ebi, Rh Paing Bujang and Rh Meriss@Laja Augustine Igoh.
Rh Maling Nyapang also received RM150,000 for longhouse repair works from Allan under the Rural Transformation Program (RTP) project and another RM6,000 for its Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK).
Meanwhile, statistics for 2019 from the Fire and Rescue Department showed that 21 longhouses in Sarawak were either totally or partially destroyed by fire, with a total loss of RM13 million.
In 2018, they recorded 24 cases (RM26 million) and 26 cases (RM19 million) in 2017.
Most of the cases were caused by electrical short circuits followed by negligence while cooking with gas appliances. — DayakDaily
