KUALA TERENGGANU: The Kuala Terengganu Umno division today handed over an initial aid of RM500 cash to 13 victims of a massive fire which destroyed properties at Jalan Petani near Dataran Shah Bandar on Friday.
All the victims received their allocation from Ladang state constituency coordinating officer Datuk Mohd Sabri Alwi, who earlier has a discussion regarding the incident with them at the scene.
"We are conducting surveys to get full details about the incidents before the victims can be fully assisted," he said, adding that initial investigation showed that three of the houses involved were empty.
"As such, their owners were not entitled to receive aid amounting to RM40,000," he added.
He said the other four victims will be placed at the PPR Flats in Jalan Hiliran here pending further action from the government. In the same event, MCA representative Datuk Toh Chin Yaw also said MCA will also contribute food and cash worth RM500 to each victim.
Meanwhile State Welfare Department (JKM) Assistant Director Zainal Omar said the department has identified four victims who will receive aid under the department's allocation.
"Those who rented their houses and shoplot owners are not eligible to receive the aid which will be funded through the District Office," he said adding that the department is awaiting full details from the recipients.
Zainal said the aid preparation process will be completed within a week.
On Thursday, a massive fire destroyed seven houses and six shoplots, some of them over half a century old, in the 9.30pm incident.
No one was injured in the fire.