GEORGE TOWN: Twelve flat units at People’s Housing Projects in Penang will be made available for rent to the families made homeless by the fire in Sungai Nibong Tengah.
Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin said the units would be available in two weeks at a minimal rent of about RM150 per month.
“The flats are located in several areas, such as Macallum Street, Rifle Range and Taman Manggis,” he told a press conference yesterday at the village mosque.
He said only 12 units were provided because not all the 16 affected families needed housing arrangements from the state government.
Sim also said the 16 families would each receive RM1,000 from the state government, RM500 from the TYT Disaster Fund and RM500 from the Social Welfare Department.
He clarified that there were only 89 victims and not 105 as reported earlier.
Batu Maung assemblyman Datuk Abdul Malik Abul Kassim, who was also present, gave RM1,000 from his constituency fund to buy food and basic necessities for the victims, who are temporarily staying at community halls in Jalan Tengah, Kampung Jawa and Sungai Nibong Kecil as well as at the Balai Raya Bayan Baru.
Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Mohd Rashid Hasnon hoped the assistance would help the victims rebuild their lives.
Factory worker Nur Rohayah Ahmad, 57, who opted to stay at a friend’s house instead of the hall, said she appreciated the housing arrangement and financial aid.
Her mother Kamariah Ibrahim, 78, said the family members lost all their possessions in the fire.
The 4pm fire on Saturday razed a major section of the village, which is located in Bayan Baru.
It was reported that 14 houses were burnt completely and one house partially razed.
No injuries were reported.
