KAPIT : Bukit Goram state assemblyman Jefferson Jamit Unyat visited the fire victims at Taman Melatai here late Saturday afternoon to offer them solace and assistance.
He also thanked all relevant government agencies, component parties of GPS and the non-governmental organisations here which sprang into action to help the fire victims.
“I apologise for not visiting you (fire victims) earlier because I was involved in some official activities in Kuching. However, I have instructed our staff from the PBB Bukit Goram Services Centre namely, Edward Manggah, Watson Awan and Cochran Amos to meet you to find out your immediate needs.
“I am very happy to note the caring attitude of our society and I wish to thank the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Kapit for preventing the fire from spreading to nearby houses to prevent more damages,” said Jamit.
He thanked the Welfare Department Kapit which was on the ground to assist the fire victims to provide immediate food assistance and school aids to the children and all the NGOs including the Malaysian Red Crescent Kapit Society, Lions Club Kapit, Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU), Kelab Kebajikan Chelsea Heights, Sarawak Dayak National Union Youth Wing, Kelab Kebajikan Nanga Antawau, Pemuda PBB and SUPP which had shown good examples by chipping in cash and food donations to the fire victims.
Jamit said a contractor had been engaged to clear the ground to pave the way for the new houses.
He advised the heads of the four affected families that the drawings of the new houses must be done properly with consideration to widen the access road for free flow of traffic.
Jamit assured that as elected representatives, he and Kapit Member of Parliament Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi were trying their very best to help them to rebuild their new homes on the same plot of land after the clearing had been done.
At the function, Jamit handed out RM2,000 to each family.
In the late midnight fire on Jan 3, 28 people from four families were left homeless as their double-storey terrace houses (four units in a row) in a residential area at Taman Melatai 1 row were reduced to ashes by the fire.
The affected families were led respectively by Dapong Anak Sempurai, Paul Jembu Anak Jawa, Gon Anak Manggom and Andreas Anak Bawing.
Speaking on behalf of the fire victims, Tuai Rumah Gon Manggom said they were very sad because their homes went up in smoke. He said it was very challenging to reconstruct their new houses and called on the local elected representatives to help them.
Late Friday afternoon, a political secretary to the Chief Minister, Tapah Ata met the fire victims at Melatai, Jalan Selirik here.
So far, the cash donations for each family were from Nanta (RM1,000), N64 Baleh (RM1,000), N 61 Pelagus (RM1,000), SUPP (RM250), SDNU Kapit Youth, PBB Youth, Kelab Kebajikan Nanga Antawau and Kelab Kebajikan Chelsea Heights.
Accompanying Jamit on the visit were Deputy Kapit Resident Galong Luang, Special Branch Officer Kapit Police Department ASP Chua Su Hua, SUPP Kapit chairman James Ling Thian Ing, Penghulu Pasang Tubah, Tuai Rumah Laso, Nanta’s special assistants Penghulu Sia Shui Poh and Ambrose Abong Bugek.
