(7th right) Wahid with his wife together with Azis, Lewis and others.
KOTA KINABALU: Victims of the recent fire in Inanam, which claimed five lives, are appealing for assistance to rebuild their homes.
The affected residents, who come from low-income families, emphasise that living in squatter areas was not their choice but an economic necessity.
Among them is Wahid Mualad, who tragically lost his two daughters in the Sept 30 fire.
"Losing two daughters at once is overwhelming, but we have no choice but to accept this fate," he said when met at a temporary shelter next to the fire site on Thursday (Oct 3).
"It's not that we don't want to live in a safer place, but as a contract worker with an unstable income, supporting my three other children has been challenging. This place has provided us shelter from rain and shine for years," said the 43-year-old.
Wahid hopes the government or generous individuals and organisations will help them find safer, more liveable homes.
Regarding their future plans, he remains uncertain, as the hospital is still conducting forensic investigations on the deceased family members.
"My surviving children and wife are still in shock as we try to come to terms with what happened," he said.
Wahid was working in Kota Belud when the fire broke out, claiming the lives of his daughters, aged three and 14.
Former Sepanggar MP Datuk Azis Jamman, who visited the victims and arranged food baskets for them, noted that no one would choose to live in such dire conditions under normal circumstances.
He highlighted the profound losses suffered by the victims, particularly the families who lost children.
“These victims are locals, they are Malaysian citizens, so I hope the government will provide assistance. It's not their choice to live in squatter areas, but their financial situation doesn’t allow living elsewhere,” he stated.
Azis also urged the public to stop stereotyping squatters as illegal immigrants.
Parti Warisan Chinese community leader for Inanam, Lewis Wong, who distributed food baskets, emphasised the importance of fire prevention awareness for every family, noting that many accidents could be averted.
He stressed that safety equipment like fire detectors and extinguishers are essential for early intervention in fires.
The fire left 12 families homeless, now residing at a makeshift shelter beside the site.
A total of five houses, a sundry shop, and a store unit were destroyed in the blaze.
