The Home Ministry will handle documentation issues for Sandakan fire victims individually, focusing first on shelter and registration before addressing lost papers.
PUTRAJAYA: The Home Ministry will manage documentation matters for the victims of the Kampung Bahagia fire in Sandakan on a case-by-case basis once the official registration process is finalised.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said that the immediate priority remains the provision of temporary shelter at relief centres. Simultaneously, state and federal agencies are working to register those displaced by the massive blaze that occurred on April 19.
Saifuddin clarified that the ministry cannot issue a general statement regarding the documentation status of the victims at this stage, as field assessments are still ongoing.
“Given that more than 9,000 residents were affected and over 1,000 stilt houses were destroyed, the Sabah state government and relevant agencies are currently focused on the registration exercise,” he told reporters following a contract signing ceremony for the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency’s second Multi-Purpose Mission Ship.
He emphasised that any instances of individuals or families lacking identification will be evaluated individually as data emerges from the registration process.
Saifuddin stressed the importance of personal documentation, noting that such papers cannot be issued without proper entitlement, even in the aftermath of a disaster.
However, he assured that the ministry would assist genuine Malaysian citizens who lost their papers in the fire.
“Personal documentation is vital and must be held legally. We cannot simply issue documents to those who are not entitled to them. The Home Ministry will do its utmost to assist, particularly those with genuine Malaysian citizenship, by facilitating the replacement of lost documents,” he added.
The pre-dawn fire on April 19 devastated approximately 1,000 of the 1,200 houses in Kampung Bahagia, affecting a total of 9,007 residents.
Following the incident, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim confirmed that the Federal Government is collaborating closely with the Sabah administration to provide immediate aid and temporary housing.
In a related matter, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said that medical personnel have been prepared for deployment to assess the health and well-being of the victims.
