Sandakan Fire: KPKT Ready To Collaborate With Sabah Gov’t To Channel Aid 

BANTING, April 21 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) is ready to cooperate with the state government in formulating follow-up measures to address the impact of the fire at the Kampung Bahagia water village in Sandakan, Sabah, recently.

Deputy Minister of Housing and Local Government Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu said Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor could arrange a joint meeting with the Federal Government, if necessary, to coordinate measures and determine the appropriate form of assistance.

She said this is necessary, given that matters related to accommodation fall under the state’s jurisdiction.

She said that, as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the Federal government remains open to working together, but would wait for direction from the state government first.

“If there is a need for assistance anywhere, we are very open to working together. For now, we will first await direction from the state government,” she told reporters after the 2025 Academic Year Excellence Award ceremony and launch of the Digital Class at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Batu Laut here today.

Meanwhile, Aiman Athirah said that more than 30 Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) personnel were deployed to the incident location at midnight from the Sandakan and Kinabatangan fire stations to tackle the blaze.

She said the rescue operation faced difficulties due to the densely packed settlement, narrow paths and low-tide conditions, which made it difficult to obtain a water supply during the fire.

As such, she urged residents’ associations in such housing areas to work closely with the fire department to form community fire brigades and Volunteer Fire and Rescue Associations as a step towards increasing preparedness and safety awareness among residents.

The fire at the Kampung Bahagia water village occurred in the early morning of April 19, reportedly destroying 1,000 houses and leaving 9,007 residents homeless. 

Following the incident, the Prime Minister was reported to have said that the Federal government, together with the Sabah government, are coordinating basic assistance and temporary accommodation as soon as possible for the fire victims.

-- BERNAMA