World · Malaysia Bureau
Kampung Bahagia residents seek to rebuild five months after devastating fire
Nearly 9,000 residents of the historic Sandakan waterfront settlement remain in limbo as reconstruction efforts stall five months after a catastrophic blaze destroyed thousands of wooden stilt houses. The fire left residents displaced and uncertain about their future in the community where many families have lived for generations.
LSN Malaysia ·
SANDAKAN — Five months after fire swept through Kampung Bahagia, reducing thousands of wooden structures to ash, the waterfront settlement remains a landscape of blackened ruins and uncertainty. The September fire displaced approximately 9,000 residents from the historic community, one of Sabah's oldest settlements, where traditional stilt houses once formed a densely packed neighbourhood above the water.
For many residents, the settlement represents far more than a place of residence. Families have called Kampung Bahagia home for generations, with deep cultural and social ties to the community. The destruction has left residents grappling not only with the loss of their homes but also questions about whether they will be permitted to rebuild in their ancestral location.
Authorities have yet to announce a clear timeline or comprehensive plan for reconstruction, leaving residents in prolonged uncertainty. The delay has compounded the hardship faced by displaced families, many of whom remain in temporary shelters or with relatives. Community leaders have appealed for accelerated decision-making on rebuilding permits and support mechanisms to help residents restore their lives.
The fire marked one of the most significant disasters to affect the historic settlement in recent memory, drawing attention to the vulnerability of densely populated wooden structures and the need for improved safety measures and disaster preparedness in similar communities across the region.