‘This is where we were born’: 9,000 Kampung Bahagia residents wait to rebuild five months after devastating fire
SANDAKAN, Sept 22 — Where a thousand wooden stilt houses once rose above the water, only blackened ruins remain. T...
Five months after a devastating fire, nearly 9,000 residents of the floating village of Kampung Bahagia in Sandakan are waiting to rebuild their lives. The aftermath of the fire, which occurred on April 19, left only blackened ruins where once stood a thousand wooden stilt houses. Rows of tents with white canopies and plywood huts now dot the roadside, providing temporary shelter for the displaced families.
Among those struggling to rebuild is 53-year-old Rohaida Absara, who now lives in a small tent with her seven family members, including three grandchildren. She worries about the heat, rain, and strong winds that threaten to uproot her makeshift home. Despite the harsh conditions, Rohaida and her family are determined to return to their ancestral home.
Similar to Rohaida, Simang Damli, 31, is also living in a tent with three other families. However, due to overcrowding and discomfort, she has been forced to send five of her children to stay with relatives while she remains with her one-month-old baby in the tent. She fears for her child's safety during rainstorms, as the canopy could easily be blown away by strong winds.
Despite the hardships, there is hope for the residents of Kampung Bahagia. Efforts are underway to rebuild their homes on the same site, which holds deep sentimental value for the community as their birthplace and the site of generations of memories. The newly formed Kampung Bahagia Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK), along with the Sabah state government and various NGOs, is working to facilitate the construction of new houses for the victims.
Community spirit remains strong among the residents, with the JKKK monitoring the welfare and safety of those living in tents. Night patrols are conducted to ensure the area remains safe from potential animal disturbances. Health and sanitation concerns are also being addressed through cooperation among government agencies, NGOs, and elected representatives, who have allocated emergency funds for the construction of basic toilets and are planning additional sanitation units.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
