TAWAU: The Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) is deploying 10 personnel from the 26th Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment from Kukusan Camp, here to help in providing food and drinks to the fire victims at Kampung Titingan who are now staying at the community hall in the village.
Task Force 450 Commander, Maj General Datuk Zulkapri Rahamat said the deployment of the military personnel at every disaster location was one of the community services undertaken by the ATM to assist the local residents.
“Normally when a disaster strikes, substantial contributions from the various government agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), political leaders and individuals are received in various forms, including raw food, but there are no cooks available and we are thus prepared to assist.
“These military personnel are not only deployed for warfare but they also possess expertise and experience in handling disasters, including providing food,” he told reporters after visiting his personnel in preparing food for the fire victims besides observing the condition of the victims, here yesterday.
Zulkapri said the cooking services provided by the ATM at Kampung Titingan entered the third day yesterday and there was still a balance of three days before the Welfare Department takes over the function of providing food.
On Tuesday, 336 fire victims were left with only the clothes on their back following a major fire at 12.45 am in Kampung Titingan. — Bernama