MERBOK: Twelve fishing families affected by a fire in Tanjung Dawai, which destroyed 14 homes on Sunday, have received immediate assistance of RM11,000 each from the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM).
LKIM chairman Muhammad Faiz Fadzil said that the RM132,000 in aid is aimed at helping the families secure temporary housing while awaiting permanent solutions.
"This aid will allow them to rent homes temporarily as they wait for new housing arrangements," he said after presenting the funds to the victims, currently sheltering at the Temporary Relief Centre (PPS) at SJKC Choong Cheng today.
He said that LKIM had begun discussions with the Kedah government about relocating the fire victims.
"The land affected by the fire belongs to a state government agency, so the land status must be resolved before any new houses can be built.
"According to records, this land is not under LKIM's jurisdiction," he added.
Efforts are also underway to identify nearby housing options for the displaced families.
Fisherman Yusof Ismail, 61, who was injured in the fire, expressed his gratitude for the support but shared his struggle to find rental homes near Tanjung Dawai.
"It is challenging to find rentals here. If we move farther away, commuting to the sea will be difficult for us fishermen," he said.
The fire on Sunday morning left 14 homes gutted and a man injured while trying to escape.