KUCHING: The 45 families who survived a fire that razed their longhouse Rumah Sembau in Sri Aman last week have gained the attention of Works Minister Baru Bian.
The head of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Batang Lupar, Abang Zulkifli Abang Engkeh, who represented Baru, has visited the families and given them financial assistance.
A total of RM10,000 was given to the longhouse’s Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK), together with disaster kits that contained necessities such as beds, pillows and blankets.
Abang Zulkifli also expressed his sadness to the victims as the fire destroyed their longhouse just when Christmas is coming and it also took the life of one of the villagers.
He also assured that PKR Batang Lupar would work with federal and state authorities to evaluate their long-term needs to prevent such a tragedy from happening again, especially in efforts to reduce the risk of longhouse fire in the future.
Last December 12, the 28-door Rumah Sembau was razed to the ground. One Yon Manjat, a woman in her 60’s, was later found dead among the ashes.
A total of 186 villages were left with nothing except for the clothes on their backs.
