By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 12: The rebuilding of Rumah (Rh) Austin Ekau, Nanga Sipan in Song which was destroyed in a fire on Sept 28, will proceed once the land ownership and site clearance matters are settled, says Works Minister and Kapit MP Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi.
Nanta, who chaired a post-fire coordination meeting today before visiting the site, said the tragedy that wiped out the 29-door longhouse, displacing 81 residents, was deeply saddening and should serve as an important lesson for all.
He stressed the need to enhance preparedness in facing disasters, particularly by improving the availability and condition of firefighting equipment which remains unsatisfactory in many rural areas.
“Relevant authorities such as the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) and other safety agencies must carry out regular inspections and promptly report any shortcomings for immediate action,” he said in a Facebook post today.
During the meeting, it was agreed that the longhouse will be rebuilt on its original site, with the government extending various forms of assistance to help affected families recover.
At present, Nanta said the victims are constructing temporary shelters (dampa) with the help of RM10,000 assistance per household from the Welfare Department (JKM).
In addition, the government is providing RM70,000 per unit to support the construction of new permanent houses.
As a gesture of solidarity, Nanta and Katibas assemblyman Lidam Assan each contributed RM1,000 per unit to ease the burden of affected residents.
The meeting also discussed allocations for retaining wall works and clearing of the fire site.
Nanta further announced an additional contribution of RM10,000 per unit—amounting to a total of RM290,000—to support the rebuilding process.
Of that, RM145,000 will be disbursed soon to help residents build their temporary shelters before the permanent houses are constructed.
He expressed hope that the assistance and attention given will help restore the spirit and livelihood of affected families while serving as a reminder on the importance of preparedness in facing disasters. — DayakDaily
