Displaced villagers receive special allowance

Recipients from the eight affected villages in Felda Sahabat, Lahad Datu, are grateful for the special assistance.

Abu Bakar Palah.

LAHAD DATU: Abu Bakar Palah was forced to do odd jobs to feed his family.

The former temporary teacher at Sekolah Kebangsaan Lok Buani had to turn to harvesting oil palm at a plantation in Felda Sahabat, some 100 kilometres from here.

“My service (as a temporary teacher) was not renewed. Life is hard and the intrusion did not make it easier. I had to bring my family to move in temporarily with relatives at Fajar Harapan just to keep them safe.

“I do not know the fate of our home in Kampung Lok Buani but I hope we can go back soon,” said the 49-yeaer-old father of seven children.

He, however, had a reason to smile yesterday, thanks to the RM1,000 special allowance from the National Security Council aimed at easing the sufferings of those affected by the conflict at Felda Sahabat.

“I am grateful with the much needed assistance. At least it would lighten our burden a bit,” he said.

Siti Aminah Kungkung.

Siti Aminah Kunkung, 49, also shared Abu Bakar’s sentiment, saying that the cash would enable her to send her sick children for medical attention.

The housewife from Kampung Tanjung Labian said she had to walk, bringing her four children, to Kampung Sungai Bilis, about six kilometres from her village.

“We are now putting up at an evacuation centre. We are grateful for having a shelter but nothing beats the comfort of your own home,” she said.

The duo were among the 371 recipients of the special allowance presented by Tungku assemblyman Datuk Mohd Suhaili Said.

This special allowance will be presented to displaced villagers from eight affected villages in Felda Sahabat, namely Kampung Tanduo, Kampung Tanjung Labian, Kampung Tanjung Batu, Kampung Lok Buani, Kampung Lok Sembuang, Kampung Sungai Nyamuk, Kampung Sungai Bilis and Kampung Sungai Merah.

It was one of the assistances announced by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin during his visit here middle of this month.

Apart from the RM1,000 allowance, villagers whose houses were damaged during the Ops Daulat will also be compensated.