By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Nov 13: Kuching South City Council (MBKS) has contributed RM5,000 in financial assistance to five families affected by the fire at Kampung Tabuan Hilir to help ease their immediate expenses as they make arrangements for temporary accommodation and replace essential belongings.
MBKS Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng said the Council, through its MBKS Caring Programme, was providing RM1,000 to each of the five households affected by the fire, which occurred yesterday (Nov 12) morning.
The incident affected five houses and 30 residents, including three children include a person with disabilities (OKU).
Speaking during the presentation of assistance to the affected families at Datuk Dr Hj Hazland multipurpose hall today, Wee said the contribution was intended to provide some relief as the families dealt with the immediate challenges following the incident.
He said the families had to make urgent arrangements for accommodation, clothing and other daily necessities, while also ensuring their children could return to their usual routines.
“When you stand there and see what is left of someone’s home, you realise how much a family has to deal with in a single day,” he said.
Wee said he had visited the fire site yesterday together with Deputy Mayor Dato Zaiedi Suhaili and MBKS councillors to assess the situation and identify the assistance the Council could provide.
He emphasised that the Council would continue to monitor the families’ needs in the coming days, as some of their requirements might only become apparent after they had assessed their losses.
He encouraged the affected families to maintain contact with MBKS councillors and officers should they require further assistance.
“We will look into what the Council can do and help put you in touch with the relevant agencies where further assistance is needed,” he said.
Apart from providing cash assistance, he said MBKS had also arranged mobile toilets for the affected families to meet their basic needs following the disaster.
Wee also said he had asked the councillors to maintain contact with the affected households after today’s assistance presentation to ensure their needs were communicated directly to the Council.
He thanked firefighters from the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) stations in Tabuan Jaya and Padungan for their swift response in bringing the fire under control.
He also acknowledged the police personnel, community leaders and neighbours who had stepped forward to assist the affected families.
Wee said community support, particularly in the immediate aftermath of a fire, could make a meaningful difference to families who had suddenly lost their homes and belongings.
He urged the affected families to take things one day at a time, assuring them that MBKS would remain in contact and provide assistance within its capacity as they worked towards getting back on their feet.
Wee also appealed to members of the public to extend a helping hand to the affected families, particularly in addressing the needs of the children and the person with disabilities.
He advised those wishing to contribute to first contact local community leaders or MBKS councillors to identify the items most urgently needed by the victims, ensuring that donations are practical and useful while avoiding unnecessary wastage.
“We hope members of the public will first find out what the victims genuinely need before offering assistance, so that every contribution can make a meaningful difference,” he said.
He emphasised that during times of disaster, unity, practical assistance and emotional support from the community are essential in helping affected families overcome their difficulties.
“I hope everyone will continue to care for and support one another during difficult times, so that together we can help these families recover and rebuild their lives,” he said. — DayakDaily
