SELANGAU: A new longhouse will be built for fire victims in Selangau whose longhouse was razed to the ground recently.

Tamin assemblyman Christopher Gira Sambang said that the Sarawak government will help the affected residents to build a new longhouse through the allocation of the State Disaster Relief Fund with an allocation of RM70,000 per door.

“We will identify a place for them to build a new longhouse,” he said, reported the state public communications unit.

Earlier, Gira visited the site of the fire incident where the 36-door Rumah Jungan at Mile 36, Sibu-Selangau Road was destroyed by fire, leaving 171 occupants homeless.

In addition, an amount of nearly RM200,000 was raised from members of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) through cash including from the Minor Rural Project (MRP) fund of which will be deposited into the account of the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK).

Those from PRS who have contributed included Senator Rita Insol, Datuk Snowdan Lawan, Nicholas Kudi, Kennedy Chukpai Ugon, Anyi Jana, Datuk Majang Renggi, Datuk John Sikie Tayai, Datuk Liwan Lagang, Datuk Malcolm Mussen Lamoh, and Datuk Mong Dagang.

The affected residents also received various forms of assistance from agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and individuals.

Meanwhile, the fire survivors are currently placed at a temporary shelter at Maria Indai Ukaristia Church, Mile 36, Tamin, Selangau.