Firemen to build houses for six fire victims

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TAWAU: The Sabah Fire and Rescue Department will build houses for six fire victims in the state this year.

Its director, Nordin Pauzi, said the reconstruction of burnt home project under the National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS 7) would be carried out entirely by the department’s personnel in an effort to help victims to own back their homes.

“This year, we received allocations to build six houses, four will be rebuilt and two more for repair and the shortlisted recipients will be announced later,”he said during a presentation of keys under the House Rebuilding Program at Kampung Kuala Apas, Mile 15 to Mariam, whose home was destroyed by fire on July 2 last year.

Nordin said all the construction works would be done by firefighters and would be completed in a short period of time at a lower cost than those charged by the developers, but still in accordance with the set standards.

A house will be rebuilt at a cost of RM50,000, while the repair cost is RM20,000.

Youth and Sport Minister Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan, who presented the house keys to Mariam, commended the firemen for their valiant effort to help fire victims who lost their houses by building them new and more comfortable homes.

Tawfiq, who is also the Apas assemblyman, said as an elected representative, he has limited ability to help those affected, but the fire-fighters’ efforts, through the National Blue Ocean Strategy 7, is a sign that the government understands the sufferings of the people involved.

Mariam’s family home was reconstructed on a plot of land owned by her about 500 metres from the site of original home. The firemen started the reconstruction on September 9 last year and completed it on December 9.