Kota Kinabalu: A kind-hearted security guard saved residents’ cats and hamsters from perishing in a fire at Kampung Cempaka, Likas, on Saturday (March 1).
Alnori Asaat, 27, whose house was also affected in the early morning blaze, said he managed to rescue a cat and her kittens amid the raging fire.
He said the cats, belonging to his neighbour, happened to be near him at the time, adding that he also saved several hamsters which he found trapped in their cages.
“I saved six hamsters and five cats, including my own, which I brought here (to the temporary relief centre),” he told Bernama at the Likas Multipurpose Hall here, Monday.
However, Alnori was disappointed at not being able to save more cats and was also sad that he could not save his belongings in the fire.
Housewife Norpidah Junaidi, 26, was devastated that she couldn’t save her beloved pet cat.
She said that she woke up to the dawn call to prayer and heard a commotion before realising that the fire had spread, destroying her neighbour’s house which was one house away from hers.
“We only thought about the children and rushed out. In our haste, we forgot about the cats. As soon as we escaped, five gas cylinders in our house exploded,” said Norpidah, who lives in the house with 14 family members.
Meanwhile, Dayang Nuraini Burhan, 33, only had time to grab her identification documents before fleeing as the fire spread rapidly.
She hopes they (the victims) will be allowed to rebuild their homes in the same place due to financial constraints, especially if they have to rent a place elsewhere which may be far from their children’s school.
Rozana Amsain, 35, also hopes that they will be allowed to reconstruct their homes in the area while awaiting relocation.
She said they have been given just one week to find rental houses, which is quite difficult considering their financial constraints after they lost their business supplies in the fire, which left 511 people from 91 families homeless after their houses were razed.
Two temporary relief centres have been set up for the victims, with the centre in Likas housing 200 residents from 34 households and the centre in Damai, Luyang, sheltering 311 residents from 57 households.
Earlier, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor visited and provided aid to the victims.
