KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan information chief Datuk Azis Jamman has called on the state government to expedite the construction of a permanent disaster relief centre, citing the annual occurrence of fires and floods in Sabah.
He highlighted the repeated displacement of victims as underscoring the need for a designated relocation site with proper facilities.
"This is not the first time, and it will not be the last. Every year, families lose their homes to fires or floods and are left with no proper place to go. It is time for the government to stop treating this as a temporary issue and start planning for a long-term solution," he said.
Speaking at the Likas Hall temporary relief centre, which currently houses residents displaced by the massive fire at Kampung Cempaka in Likas on Saturday morning (March 1), he noted that the government owns large tracts of land that could be allocated for a centralised relief centre.
"We need a designated area where disaster victims can be immediately relocated. It should have proper shelters, a communal kitchen, and medical facilities to ensure their well-being," he said.
Azis added that a similar proposal was raised during the Warisan administration but was stalled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
"We proposed this before, but it did not materialise. It must now be revived. The current government must take this seriously and speed up its implementation. We cannot predict what will happen next week or next month, so action must be taken now. How many more fires and floods do we need before real action is taken?" he asked.
He also criticised the current standard operating procedure that limits aid distribution to three days, calling for an extension.
"Three days is simply not enough. Many families have lost everything. The government should extend the aid period to at least a week to give them time to recover and find alternative housing, especially with the approaching Ramadan and school season," he said.
Azis also urged authorities to ensure mobile clinics remain accessible to victims for an extended period.
