A relief team from the state Welfare Department and Belaga assemblyman's service centre is racing against time to send aid to some 500 Penans whose homes were destroyed in a fire last week.

Belaga assemblyperson Liwan Lagang, when contacted today, said it would take more than a day to reach the razed longhouses in Long Kajang and Long Luar respectively, which were in the most remote part of Belaga district and could only be reached via logging tracks.

"We have been working hard to gather the necessary relief essentials as fast as we could but we may only be able to move the goods the earliest by this Saturday."

He said the state government today approved an immediate fund to assist the fire victims and he himself would be accompanying the relief team to distribute the aid.

"No doubt the journey to reach the two places is a bit dangerous as we have  to use the logging tracks, but my priority is to see that the fire victims receive proper attention and assistance," he added.

The victims have lost not only their homes in the fire but also their personal documents such as MyKad and birth certificates which they had just obtained through a recent National Registration Department mobile registration exercise in the area.

Meanwhile, Hulu Rajang MP Billy Abit Joo, who also worked at securing welfare aid for the fire victims, had slammed two giant

logging companies operating in Belaga for donating a paltry sum of RM900.

A national tabloid last Tuesday reported his disappointment and quoted him as saying that there was nothing much the victims could do with a such a small amount.

"At the very least, these timber companies should provide the material for the Penan fire victims to rebuild their homes," he had said.

- Bernama