Help pours in for victims

SUBANG JAYA: Help continues to pour in for victims of the Putra Heights inferno, with transport authorities, service providers and the private sector coming together to ease their burdens.

The Road Transport Department has opened a mobile counter at the temporary relief centre at the Putra Heights Mosque, where victims can replace their vehicle docu­ments without requiring a police report.

They can also replace driving licences, motor vehicle licences or road tax and vehicle ownership certificates (VOC).

Victims only need to provide their names and identification card numbers to have their documents reprinted for free.

The counter began operating yesterday and will be open for two days, although it may be extended.

According to JPJ, 13 road tax, 53 VOC, 13 driving licences and three commercial driving ­licences were reissued at the counter yesterday.

The initiative is also supported by the General Insurance Asso­ciation of Malaysia, and insurance claims can also be made by victims.

Prasarana Malaysia Bhd is providing free door-to-door shuttle services for the victims.

Its six vans shuttle victims between the temporary relief centre at the mosque to the affected neighbourhood in Putra Heights, Kampung Puchong Tengah and Kampung Kuala Sungai Baru.

The vans, which enable the victims to return home to collect their stuff, also began operating yesterday and will continue as long as needed.

Automotive marketplace platform Carro is also loaning out at least 30 vehicles to the residents.

Chinese car maker Chery Malaysia is also supplying 50 cars for the fire victims, for a month. It will be on a first come, first served basis.

Applications can be made through the offices of state executive councillor Ng Sze Han’s office or Kota Kemuning assemblyman S. Preakas.

Meanwhile, Berjaya Group founder Tan Sri Vincent Tan has pledged to donate RM3,000 cash to each family.

Proton Malaysia has also allocated RM250,000 for the victims.

Six service centres nearby will provide free assessment to all affected Proton cars involved.

Likewise, Edaran Otomobil Nasional Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of DRB-HICOM Bhd, is providing 62 vehicles without any charge for a month.

Forty vehicles are being provided to families whose cars had been destroyed or severely damaged, with vehicles coming from EON’s retail brands such as Proton, Mitsubishi and Volks­wa­gen.