Landslide-struck family in Satok receives key to new house

KUCHING (Sept 4): After three months of waiting, self-employed Malik Abu Bakar, 43, and his family finally received the key to their new house yesterday.

The new house was rebuilt on top of the old structure at Kampung Kudei Baru Lama Tengah, Rubber Road West here, under the Sarawak House Improvement Project for the Poor (PPRMS).

Malik and his family were victims of a landslide that struck on May 1 this year.

He recalled that because of the heavy rain, the house collapsed, ‘starting from the kitchen, the dining room, and then the living room’.

The old house was held together by a foundation that was a mix of stone and wood, he added.

“At the time, I was praying at the mosque. At around 4.15pm, my 11-year-old daughter rushed to tell me that the house had collapsed.

“All eight of us were able to get out, including my mother, Rabiah Taha, who is 93 years old and she could only walk slowly.”

Among those present at the house during the incident were Malik’s older brother, Alias Abu Bakar, 53; his niece, Saharina Sahri, 48; his five children, ages between five and 17; and his wife.

Malik lodged a police report, and went back home to retrieve all the important documents and jewellery that he could find under the rubble.

“Unfortunately, most (of them) were destroyed.”

While waiting for the new house, Malik and his lot took shelter at a relative’s house nearby.

Yesterday, Satok assemblyman Dato Ibrahim Baki handed over the key to the new house to Malik and his family in a ceremony.

In his remarks, Ibrahim said: “Ibraco Group managing director Chew Chiaw Han is a good Samaritan for helping to uphold the corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Sarawak.

“They began rebuilding works immediately in June, and after three months, the new house was completed, which is much safer than the original structure, which was built at ground level in a village that is prone to flooding.”

With a total area of approximately 850 square feet, the new house is now pillared and has a kitchen, a bathroom and four rooms, providing ample space for the 10-member family.

“Building this house was not easy due to its very low access, but everything still went smoothly.

“I initially thought it would be finished by the end of the year, but I was surprised when they (Ibraco) called two days ago to inform that it was ready,” said Ibrahim.

The construction cost was nearly RM100,000, and the CSR effort was supported by the federal government under Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who is Petra Jaya MP.