TAWAU: Victims of the fire at Batu 2, Jalan Apas, have expressed their gratitude to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for the special assistance provided to help ease the burden on affected families.
Mohd Azmi Mohd Asri, 24, said the contribution from the prime minister was deeply appreciated and reflected his concern for the tragedy that had befallen the villagers.
He recounted that he was out delivering food when a friend informed him that a fire had broken out near his home.
"I rushed home and saw a large fire coming from a neighbour's house behind mine. I managed to salvage some items from the refrigerator, a few pieces of clothing and personal documents. My parents had already escaped by then.
"I am grateful that everyone is safe. I hope to receive government assistance to repair my fire-damaged home," he said when met at a special assistance presentation ceremony initiated by the prime minister and delivered by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak) Datuk Mustapha Sakmud today at the temporary evacuation centre at the Tawau Sports Complex multipurpose hall.
Villager Abdul Japar Judin, 56, also thanked the prime minister for the assistance provided to ease the burden on the victims and acknowledged the non-governmental organisations that had offered help following the incident.
Abdul Japar, a teacher at St Patrick's Primary School, said he never expected his own home to be destroyed in the fire, which broke out at 9.31pm. However, he was thankful that he had managed to ensure his family members reached safety.
He suggested that villagers be given more frequent exposure to fire safety awareness programmes, particularly on initial firefighting efforts.
Such knowledge could help reduce the risk of large-scale fires, especially as the houses were estimated to be just one metre apart.
Earlier, Mustapha presented assistance to 69 heads of households affected by the fire. He expressed his condolences to the victims and hoped the aid would help ease their burden.
He said further assistance was expected from other sources, including the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) and the state government.
He also reminded the public to be more vigilant at home, particularly when using kitchen equipment and electrical appliances, to reduce the risk of fires, especially during hot weather.
"Thank you to the prime minister. He is a truly caring person."
He said the 2027 Budget had increased the allocation for Nadma to RM260 million, including an increase in home repair assistance for disaster victims, such as those affected by fires, from RM5,000 to RM10,000.
In the incident, 15 houses were destroyed by fire, affecting 267 people from 69 households.
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