State govt reaches out to family who lost child

KUCHING: The State Social Welfare Department has provided disaster relief to the family of the boy with disability who lost his life during the fire at Mile 7 on Jan 9.

Women, Childhood and Community Well-Being Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said the boy’s father Hiew Sze Hian received RM13,100, with RM4,000 meant for construction material for his shoplot along with RM6,000 as small business recovery assistance.

Some other assistance given to the Hiew were RM300 in pocket money, food worth RM200, daily clothes worth RM800 as well as school uniform and stationery worth RM400 and RM200 respectively.

“This is one of the ways the state government assists, no matter what type of natural disaster happens, whether it is flood or fire, what matters to us the most is that immediate assistance should be given.”

She said this to reporters after handing over the assistance to the family here on Tuesday (Jan 16).

“We have a very clear guideline in providing the assistance to victims of natural disasters.

“Most importantly, we as the state government are very concerned for the people, as we want to make sure that everyone is safe during such disasters,” she added.

Gollowing the blaze, the charred remains of the boy with disability were found in the shophouse at Jalan Liu Shan Bang.

Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operation Henderi Ardimansyah said the remains of 12-year-old Jindra Hiew Zhi Tao were discovered at 5.26 pm.