SANDAKAN: About 1,000 families affected by the Kampung Bahagia fire have received RM270,000 worth of immediate relief from Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD).
The aid, comprising mattresses, pillows and hygiene kits, was distributed from April 26 to 28 with the help of employee volunteers from Sime Industrial and SD Guthrie.
The foundation also worked with the Sabah Social Welfare Department and Kampung Bahagia community leaders to send the items to eight temporary relief centres (PPS).
The centres were SK Kampung Gas, SK Kampung Bahagia, SMK Batu Sapi, SK Karamunting, PPR Batu Sapi, Gelanggang Futsal Sim-Sim, Dewan Serbaguna Warga Tua and Dewan Sibuga.
YSD chief executive officer Dr Yatela Zainal Abidin said the foundation wanted to help restore a sense of stability and dignity for families who had lost everything overnight.
“At Yayasan Sime Darby, we see it as our shared responsibility to stand with communities during their most vulnerable moments.
“We are working collaboratively to ensure essential support reaches those who are often unseen, as they find their footing again and begin to rebuild their lives,” she said when met at the PPS at Sri Harapan Home for Senior Citizens here on Tuesday (April 28).
The April 19 fire destroyed over 1,000 homes and affected 9,007 people.
While some families have been placed in PPS, many others have remained in the village and are sheltering in temporary tents.
One victim, Labia Atiun, 63, who is staying at Sri Harapan, said the fire spread so quickly that everything was lost in an instant.
“While I am very grateful to YSD for helping to ease our burden, I cannot help but worry about the future.
“I now need to look for a nearby rental home, which will cost around RM600 to RM700 a month, adding to the challenges we are facing,” she said.
Meanwhile, Kampung Bahagia community leader Rozaizar Rozaine, 39, who is also a fire victim, helped coordinate the distribution of aid to 580 families on April 27 through organised queues and a coupon system.
“I was born and raised in Kampung Bahagia, and our community is still in shock after the fire. Despite this, life goes on, people continue working and sending their children to school.
“We believe families will return because this is our home, and we hope for continued support to help our community rebuild together, not just through one-off aid,” he said.
YSD said the distribution was also carried out in coordination with the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry’s ongoing engagement at the affected sites.
