Imagine waking up to find your home, a humble yet cherished abode, reduced to smouldering ashes. This wasn’t a scene from a disaster movie, but a reality for thousands in Malaysia’s Sabah, where a recent fire razed around 1,000 ‘stilt’ homes. The blaze, fueled by strong winds, swept through the coastal village of Kunak, displacing thousands and leaving them with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

Malta, with its limited space, has its own share of stilt houses, particularly in Marsaxlokk and Marsascala. These traditional ‘trabokk’ houses, built on stilts over the sea, are not only iconic but also serve as affordable housing for many locals. The Sabah fire serves as a stark reminder of the potential threats these structures face, from natural disasters to the test of time.

Remember the great storm of 2007 that battered Malta’s coastline? It was a wake-up call then, with several stilt houses in Marsaxlokk and Marsascala damaged or destroyed. The Sabah fire is another wake-up call, this time from across the globe. It underscores the need for strong building regulations and regular maintenance to ensure the safety and longevity of our own stilt houses.

In the wake of the Sabah fire, local authorities have been swift in providing aid and temporary shelters. But the real challenge lies in rebuilding and ensuring these homes are more resilient to future disasters. This is a lesson we can apply in Malta. Here are a few steps we could take:

• Regular Inspections: Enforce regular inspections of stilt houses to ensure their structural integrity and safety standards.
• Fire Safety Measures: Promote and enforce fire safety measures, such as fire-resistant materials and easily accessible fire exits.
• Disaster Preparedness: Encourage and support community-based disaster preparedness plans, including evacuation drills and emergency response teams.

Malta’s Housing Authority and local councils could lead these initiatives, working hand in hand with homeowners and communities.

Malta and Malaysia share strong ties, with many Maltese having Malaysian ancestry. In this time of need, we could extend a helping hand. Here are a few ways:

• Fundraising: Organise fundraising events or drives to support the affected families in Sabah.
• Volunteer Support: Encourage and facilitate volunteer support from Maltese professionals, such as architects and builders, to help in the rebuilding efforts.
• Policy Exchange: Share our experiences and best practices in disaster resilience and affordable housing with our Malaysian counterparts.

Let’s not forget that disasters know no borders. By supporting Sabah today, we’re also investing in our own resilience for tomorrow.