House fire victims deserve the same assistance as flood victims from the government because they also suffered a total loss due to the incidents, Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff said.
In this regard, she said the ministry would bring the proposal to provide equal assistance for flood and fire victims to the higher authorities for consideration.
“For example, if flood victims received ‘wang ehsan’ and those who suffered total loss will get housing assistance, so the victims of house fires should also be considered for the same assistance.
"I visited 40 families in Kampung Sungai Buaya, Tawau Lama, who were the victims of a fire on Sunday. Today, we channelled aid from the Welfare Department's Disaster Fund. The ministry will also look at other needs and we are working with various parties to help them," Siti Zailah said yesterday.
She spoke to reporters after visiting the victims of the Kampung Sungai Buaya fire who are being housed at a relief centre near the Habib Abdul Rahman Mosque, Batu 2 in Tawau, Sabah.
Siti Zailah said the fire victims also received assistance from the state government as well as non-governmental organisations that handed over donations such as food kits and clothes.
Meanwhile, one of the victims, Ghani Sabturani, 70, said the 12.20am fire destroyed all their belongings
"I hope the government will help us get a house like the people's housing programme (PPR). I don't have another house, I have to rent after this, with my children and grandchildren," he said.
A couple was found charred while seven other individuals suffered burns in the fire which razed about 40 houses in the village.
- Bernama
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