KINABATANGAN, 25 Feb 2018:
The Sabah Fire and Rescue Department helped to rebuild 15 houses destroyed by fire in the state.
Its director Nordin Fauzi said each house was rebuilt with a cost of RM50,000 under the seventh National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS7): My Beautiful Neighbourhood initiative.
He said the chosen house owners had fulfilled the criteria set by the government, including ownership of the land used for construction.
“Nearly every year, we will build three or four houses. For this year, we have suggested two houses to be rebuilt. However, they are still waiting for approval,” said Nordin during the handing over of keys for the houses restored under the NBOS7 programme at Kampung Lot M, near here, yesterday.
Meanwhile in Kuala Lumpur, a family of six escaped a fiery end when their residence in Taman Cheras Prima, Kajang, near here, was believed to have been set on fire yesterday.
The family was asleep during the incident around 1.50am – and was awakened by the father Ng Peng Cheoi, 49 – who had smelt smoke coming from the living room.
They then managed to escape through a window on the second floor before firemen arrived at the scene.
Selangor Fire and Rescue Department Head of Operations Management and Station Alimaddia Bukri said in the rush to escape from the fire, the family’s youngest, Ng Min Jin, 13, suffered back injuries.
“The victim was sent to the Kajang Hospital and is being treated at the intensive care unit.”
The other victims who escaped unhurt were the teenager’s parents, Peng Cheoi and Teng Chui Ai, 43, as well as her three other siblings Ng Min Jun, 19, Ng Min Yun, 16 and Ng Min Xuan, 14.
Alimaddia said following a distress call received at 1.54am, a team of firemen from the Kajang and Pandan Indah Fire and Rescue Station were deployed to the scene and around 2.13am the fire was under control.
He added that fire had destroyed 80% of the lower part of the double-storey terrace house.
Kajang police chief ACP Ahmad Dzaffir Mohd Yussof said initial investigations revealed the front door had been locked from outside using a padlock, while the family’s Nissan Frontier that was parked outside had been vandalised with red paint and there was also scribbling on the vehicle, demanding for them to pay their debts.
He said investigation on the motive of the incident was underway and the suspects were sought by the police to facilitate investigations.
– Bernama