Photo shows Liew (right) having a word with Masidi.
KOTA KINABALU: The State Minister of Local Government and Housing, Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun has agreed to take up with his Federal counterpart concerning Tawau MP Datuk Christina Liew’s proposal for the People’s Housing Programme (PPR) for the fire victims of Kg Kurnia Jaya, Jalan Apas in the district.
Liew, who is also Api Api Assemblywoman, said she had a word with Masidi about the matter at the State Assembly sitting on Monday.
She urged him to use his good offices to get the nod for the proposed PPR for Kg Kurnia Jaya from the Federal Ministry of Housing and Local Government.
Liew said she will provide the necessary data and breakdown of local and illegal squatters, adding that the majority of the fire victims are locals based on statistics from the Tawau Parliamentary People’s Service Centre and Department of Social Welfare.
“I am glad that the Minister has, in response to my request, agreed to take up the case with the Federal Government for the benefit of the more than 1,300 fire victims who lost their homes in a massive fire last Thursday.
“I will be writing to him officially regarding my proposal. This is the worst inferno in the history of Tawau. Almost every year, there are fire outbreaks in Tawau involving squatter houses, causing unnecessary loss of lives and property destruction.
“We can’t wait for more fires to occur before taking a serious view of this matter. The people concerned have been living in this situation for decades. It is about time the Government acts to get rid of squatter houses in the district that are prone to fires,” Liew said in a statement.
