SPAOH, Bintulu: The reconstruction of the eight units of shops destroyed by a noon fire on February 4 this year is expected to begin next month.
According to Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, the plan had now been finalised.
He said this at a meeting with the owners here yesterday.
“A total of RM295,856 has been received from many kind donors. On behalf of the victims, I wish to thank all these donors and the State government.
“I am donating another sum of RM4144 to top it to RM300,000.00.,” he added.
Spaoh Chinese community leader Penghulu Goh Leng Tong and a teacher Lai Ngit Sin received the cheque for the amount from Uggah on behalf of the victims.
A political secretary to the chief minister Dr Richard Rapu was among those present.
Uggah said he would leave it to the victims to look for the contractor to rebuild the shops.
During the fire at 1pm, just when most of the victims were preparing for their Chinese New Year reunion dinner, four sundry shops, two coffee shops, one motor cycle workshop and one hardware stores were completely destroyed.
Uggah, who is Bukit Saban state assemblyman, and Datuk Robert Lawson Chuat, Betong MP, had each given them a grant of RM40,000 immediately after the incident.
