Haphazard houses must go to curb fires: Jainab
Published on: Monday, May 25, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: There is a need to do away with unsystematic development of houses in the Karambunai area and replace it with perhaps high-rise residential buildings to minimise fire incidents, said Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad. She said this was necessary to prevent unnecessary loss of lives and properties due to fires, adding that numerous fires had been reported in the area. The latest was in Kg Gusong, Likas where 92 families comprising 465 people, including 146 children, were left with nothing but the clothes on their backs after fire swept through the village destroying about 70 houses on Saturday night.
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According to police, three people sustained slight injuries while trying to salvage their valuables. However, no casualties were reported. "Unplanned and unsystematic settlements with wooden houses built close to each other are among high fire risk factors and also cause a fire to spread quickly," said Jainab during her visit to Kg Gusong fire victims, who are currently sheltered at the Likas Multipurpose Hall, here, Sunday. "Therefore, having high-rise housing such as flats could perhaps reduce the risk of such incident," she said, adding that it would also enable families to own proper affordable houses. Jainab, who is Karambunai Assemblywoman, also urged City Hall to fence up the site where the fire occurred as part of measures to stop irresponsible people from encroaching into the area.
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"Proactive action is needed to ensure illegal structures are not built in the area again," she said. She hoped for more cooperation from everyone to help reduce the burden of the fire victims and applauded the corporate social responsibility shown by Giant which donated disposable diapers and milk to fire victims with children.
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Also present were State Welfare Services Department Deputy Director Siti Hameh Ruman, City Hall Administration Officer Mohd Noh Bialin and personnel from the Health Department, among others.Meanwhile, City Police Chief ACP M. Chandra said a police beat patrolling the area alerted the city operations room about the fire which was said to have started at the squatter settlement in Kg Likas before it spread to Kg Gusong at about 8.11pm. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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