A fire burnt down the 15-door Block F longhouse at the Uma Baha Bakun Resettlement Scheme in Sungai Asap, Belaga
RESIDENTS of 15 longhouses of Uma Baha Bakun Resettlement Scheme, at Sungai Asap, Belaga in Sarawak want a permanent fire station built in the area.
Many are still recovering from the Jan 5 blaze when Block F longhouse was razed to the ground, leaving 70 homeless.
About 45% of Block E longhouse was also damaged in the fire.
A resident, Umie Liau, said the Orang Ulu population of about 20,000 had to be moved because of the construction of the Bakun Dam.
“The government relocated us to this new place.
“Please take care of us,” she said, adding that many longhouses in the Bakun Resettlement Scheme Sungai Asap had also burnt down previously.
“If there had been a permanent fire station, I believe many longhouses could have been salvaged,” she asserted.
Umie, who is also Kenyah Uma Baha Women’s Association Sibu chairman, said presently, the only fire station was in Belaga, a two to three-hour drive to Sungai Asap.
She also appealed to the government to replace the old wiring in longhouses.
“Since we were relocated about 25 years ago, the wiring has not been changed,” she said.
On whether illegal connections were to blame, she said they should have spot checks at longhouses to identify those who refused to abide by regulations.
Education and awareness programmes on the dangers of illegal electrical connections should also be carried out, she added. — By ANDY CHUA
