KPKT, Airbnb Team Up To Provide 50 Houses For Sandakan Fire Victims

SANDAKAN, May 1 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) has collaborated with Airbnb to provide 50 temporary houses for 28 days to Kampung Bahagia fire victims free of charge.

Its Deputy Minister Datuk Aiman ​​Athirah Sabu said the initiative was to provide a period of calm for victims of the major fire on April 19 as the temporary evacuation centre will close on May 2.

“As we experienced with the explosion in Putra Heights, Selangor, we are working with Airbnb to provide temporary housing, and we are also doing this here for the victims of Kampung Bahagia fire.

“That is among the things that KPKT is trying to do and the number will be evaluated from time to time because so far there is space for 50 houses,” she told reporters after visiting fire victims at Dewan Sibuga Temporary Evacuation Centre here today.

Two weeks ago, a fire broke out in Kampung Bahagia here and 1,000 houses were destroyed, affecting more than 9,000 residents.

Meanwhile, she said the KPKT through the National Housing Department has expedited an allocation of RM3.7 million for the housing maintenance programme, including work on the people’s housing project in Sandakan.

She said it was understood that there were 70 units that needed to be maintained and after that, the placement of the houses should give priority to fire victims.

In addition, she said the ministry had held discussions with the Sabah government, especially to provide housing options for fire victims.

“For example, there are 30 vacant houses in Residensi Pr1ma Borneo Cove that can be given priority to these victims, this matter will be coordinated with the Sandakan Municipal Council (MPS).

“We also have another Elopura residency which is currently 92 per cent completed and is expected to be completed by the end of this year, there are 750 house units and this housing can be used as PPR for fire victims,” she said.

Meanwhile, Aiman ​​Athirah wants residents in floating villages in Sabah to be given training in rescue and fire prevention.

“There is a need to increase the number of volunteer fire brigades especially in floating houses as the residents are actually the first responders before the fire brigade arrives,” she said.

-- BERNAMA