SRI AMAN, August 20: Balai Ringin assemblyman Datuk Snowdan Lawan and Sri Aman MP Datuk Masir Kujat have handed over cash aid to the victims of the razed longhouse in Kampung Sungai Merah in Pantu to help alleviate their sufferings.
Each of the two lawmakers gave RM50,000 to the longhouse’s village development and security committee (JKKK) and another RM10,000 for emergency use.
Masir happened to be in the area yesterday, while Snowdan spent about two hours with the fire victims today.
“The dry season has set in. Everywhere is very dry and there is a water shortage problem. For this village, there was no water to put out the fire. The village depends on gravity feed, but even their blue tanks were drying up,” Snowdan told DayakDaily.
He added that he would help the affected longhouse dwellers to apply for housing loans from the Housing Development Corporation.
“The residents will have to apply for the loan themselves. We can help to recommend them in their applications,” said Snowdan, who is also Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports.
The longhouse fire started at 4.38 pm, believed to be due to a short circuit. Due to the dry season, lack of water and being without fire extinguishers, headman Musih Kong said everything was destroyed in less than an hour, leaving its 166 residents homeless.
The fire also damaged two nearby houses. — DayakDaily
