Published: Sunday January 9, 2011 MYT 6:12:00 PM
Fire destroys shops and stalls in Tawau
By MUGUNTAN VANAR
KOTA KINABALU: About 50 hawkers lost their businesses when a fire destroyed their wooden shops and stalls in the Sabah east coast Tawau district.
Sixteen wooden shops and 34 stalls were razed in the 1.30am fire at Kg Titingan that wiped out thousands of Ringgit worth of goods being sold at their respective stalls.
Fire and rescue department operations chief Albert Jiran Tanjung said that firemen in two fire engines had difficulty battling the fire that was spreading through the area due to strong winds.
"We also faced water pressure problems," he said, adding that the fire was only put off at about 2.30am.
It is understood that the shops and stalls have been put up at the privately owned land and most of them did not have necessary local council licences for hawking.
State assistant minister of Finance Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan who visited the scene said that the state government would provide assistance where possible to help the victims.
However, he urged them to apply for proper business and hawking licences before they build back or start their businesses again.
