Fire victim gets new home through community aid
Published on: Friday, June 06, 2025
Published on: Fri, Jun 06, 2025
By: Iskandar Dzulkifli Text Size: Afnah (second from right) and Harun with other supporters in front of the new home at Kampung Taka. PITAS: Afnah Tundan, 51, who lost her home in a fire last year at Kampung Taka, here, has received relief through the construction of a new house. The new house, built on land adjacent to her original home, was made possible through assistance from the Sabah State Welfare Foundation (YKNS) and several compassionate individuals.
Advertisement Joy radiated from the mother of three when she received the keys to her new home from Datuk Harun Ismail, Deputy Chief of the Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (PGRS) Pitas division. Afnah, who also lost her beloved husband, a daughter, and an uncle in the tragedy, described the aid as a great blessing from Allah SWT. 'I was unable to build a new house because I am unemployed and relied on my two working daughters to support me and my youngest child who is still in school,' she said. 'After the tragedy, I had to stay with family, but now Allah SWT has answered my prayers through kind-hearted people who made this new house a reality. 'I am very grateful to all involved, especially Datuk Harun Ismail for his initiative in providing this help,' she added during the key handover ceremony at Kampung Taka. (31 May) In early August last year, the tragedy struck when the headmaster of SK Senaja, his 12-year-old daughter, and another family member died in a fire that destroyed their home in Kampung Taka. Meanwhile, Datuk Harun, who is also the Managing Director and CEO of the Sabah Oil and Gas Development Corporation (Sogdc), revealed that approximately RM61,000 was spent to build the 500-square-foot house. He said YKNS contributed RM30,000 toward the project, while the remainder was funded by generous individuals as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR). 'The new home features two bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, and basic amenities including water and electricity supply, complete with lights and fans. Construction began in March and has now been fully completed for Afnah and her children to move in, offering them renewed hope,' he said. In other developments, Harun, who is also President of the Sabah Dusun Islam Association (PDIS), announced plans to build a transit hostel at SK Bawing, Pitas, in the near future. He said the new facility would replace the existing dilapidated transit house in the remote area, which is no longer safe for students to reside in. 'We are currently finalizing the design process and expect to start the RM100,000 project within two weeks, God willing. The transit hostel will include separate dormitories for boys and girls, equipped with bunk beds, toilets, and bathrooms to ensure the students' comfort,' he explained. 'PDIS has previously built a similar facility that is still operational at Kampung Mendurian. We also cover the food and living expenses of the children while they stay at the transit hostels,' he added. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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