KUCHING: The state government through the Sarawak Social Welfare Department (JKMS) has allocated RM59,050 to the victims of the fire which occurred at Kampung Bintawa Hilir on Jan 5 this year.
Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said the assistance was distributed accordingly based on quantums set by JKMS.
She shared that the allocation provided included victims’ pocket money, their day-to-day clothes, school uniforms, stationery, kitchen utilities and construction materials.
“Today (Jan 15), we handed over cheques to provide assistance to the fire victims after looking into the details of the family members to see how many were affected by the fire.
“Therefore, we hope that with such assistance, this will lighten the burden of the fire victims, especially when facing such difficult times like this,” she told reporters after handing over cheques at the temporary evacuation centre (PPS) at the Bimajaya Recreation Centre in Kampung Bintawa Hilir yesterday (Jan 15).
During the handover of cheques to the fire victims, nine recipients received the cheques from the state government through JKMS.
The recipients were representatives of the households affected by the fire.
For the record, 38 victims from 12 families have been temporarily transferred to the PPS in Kampung Bintawa Hilir.
Fatimah also said other forms of assistance provided by the state government were for house rentals and building new houses among others.
She said the assistance included the Hardcore Poor Housing Programme (PPRT) while under the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) there was assistance of RM70,000 for disasters including fires.
“JKMS is also ready to help the fire victims get the forms and advise them where to send the forms,” she said.
Fatimah was also present at the site of the fire to look at the conditions. With her were Sarawak Social Welfare Department (JKMS) director, Adana Jed and the Ministry’s permanent secretary Noriah Ahmad.
