- The USS Stockdale (DDG 106) crew who are in Kota Kinabalu this weekend on a scheduled port call to Malaysia are happy to have volunteered to build a home with Habitat for Humanity for two days in the Tambunan district, which ended yesterday.
The Habitat project was in Kampung Kotonobon Dalungan here, helping a family whose home had been burnt down two years ago.
The elderly occupants, Mr Motogor Gulong, 73, and his wife, Madam Lointing Burong, 70, have been squatting at one of their children’s homes as they have nowhere to go.
Their home needs to have partitions fitted and a kitchen and bathroom built so that the couple can move back in.
The Habitat for Humanity president Ms Joanna Kitingan said that this was the second time a group of Navy volunteers came to build for Habitat for Humanity Kota Kinabalu Affiliate.
The first one was in February this year at the Kampung Kokol, Menggatal.
The leader of the Navy volunteers was Lt. Rodkin Mikaela who said they were indeed very happy to have been given the opportunity to build and contribute to the local community
They indeed enjoyed, and getting to know the local people who are very friendly.
They hoped to come back and stay longer because there is so much to see in Sabah.
About 24 people were involved in the two-day work on the first day and 10 people on the second day who volunteered and the US Navy will pitch in with some of the cost of supplies for the home-built project.
While in Tambunan the Navy volunteers also had the opportunity to join in the Mukim Lintuhun Harvest Festival at Kampung Dalungan and tasted the local food and festival.
They were also welcome by the Deputy Chief Minister who is also the State Assemblyman for Tambunan, Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.