Fire-damaged longhouse in Bawang Assan to be rebuilt within a year

SIBU (March 14): Reconstruction works for the Rumah Rebah longhouse in Nanga Tutus, Bawang Assan area, have officially commenced and are expected to be completed within one year.

Sarawak United People’s Party Bawang Assan branch chairman Kevin Lau, who is also a councillor with the Sibu Rural District Council, said the contractor has already begun foundation works at the site.

He said this during a site visit on Friday with his team.

Lau said he and his team also held discussions with the longhouse chief, Rebah Sembilan, and residents regarding the structural layout and arrangement of each unit once the rebuilding project is completed.

He noted that seven out of the 13 doors of the longhouse were severely damaged in a fire that occurred in mid-February 2024.

Following the incident, Lau said his team assisted the affected residents in applying for housing reconstruction assistance from the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC).

“The reconstruction application has been approved and the seven affected families have received assistance to rebuild their homes,” he said.

Elaborating further, Lau said his team helped gather the necessary documents by working closely with the Sibu Division Disaster Management Committee before the application was forwarded to the SDMC for approval.

After approval was obtained, the project was handed over to the Public Works Department (JKR) for design planning and subsequent construction works.

Lau also expressed appreciation to the various agencies involved in facilitating the application process.

He said strong cooperation was received from the Sibu Division Disaster Management Committee and several government agencies, including the Fire and Rescue Department Malaysia (Bomba), the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), and the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM).

He added that their support helped provide the necessary reports that ensured the successful completion of the disaster relief and reconstruction application.