Man loses mum, wife and kids, a week after death of father
MCA Tanjung Youth chief’s wife, mother and two kids were trapped in burning house
STILL reeling from the shock of losing his father more than a week ago, fate dealt MCA Tanjung Youth chief Lim Swee Bok another cruel blow when he lost his wife, two children and mother in an early morning fire yesterday.
The charred remains of Lau Sai Poh, 62, Chen Yen, 35, and Lim Yin Chun, 9, were found in the living room on the ground floor of their house and toilet while Lim Yia Yiin, 8, was found on the first floor.
Chen, a Chinese national, was found embracing her son, Yin Chun.
Lim, an engineer in a factory in Bayan Lepas, was on night shift at the time of the incident at 6am, and was supposed to have ended his shift about 7am.
As soon as word reached him, Lim rushed home, only to be greeted by four corpses.
It was a heartwrenching scene when Lim sought permission from firemen to carry and place his mother’s body inside the body bag.
At 6.50pm, all four remains had been claimed, the last being Chen’s, and were taken to the Sri Saujana flats in Gat Lebuh Macallum for a five-day wake.
Lim held back tears as the four caskets were carried into separate hearses from the mortuary.
He was too distraught to be interviewed.
Fire and Rescue Department operations commander Rozairi Abd Rahim said they received a distress call about a blaze at a two-storey cluster house at Pintasan Cecil 5 in Pengkalan Weld about 6.08am.
He said they arrived at the scene at 6.17am and managed to bring the blaze under control 30 minutes later.
The fire was put out at 7.10am. “We found three charred corpses of two adults and one child on the (ground floor) living room and toilet.
“Another child was found dead on the first floor,” he said at the scene.
Rozairi said 60 per cent of the house was razed.
Northeast district police chief Assistant Commissioner Anuar Omar said they were investigating the cause of the fire and estimated losses.
Checks by the New Straits
Times at the scene found that Lim’s house was sandwiched between several houses opposite a field.
The house has only one exit and the entry point was the main front door.
According to state Fire and Rescue Department director Saadon Mokhtar, the victims only realised they were in grave danger when flames had engulfed the entire house.
He said there were signs that the victims had tried to escape, but realised that they were trapped.
“This is what we believe happened. Even the neighbours told our officers that they did not hear any cries for help from inside the house during the fire.”
Meanwhile, condolences streamed in for Lim.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak took to Twitter to express his condolences to Lim over his loss.
“No words can truly describe the tragic loss of Lim Swee Bok’s family.
“Heartfelt condolences and my thoughts are with him in this difficult time,” he tweeted.
MCA also expressed its heartfelt condolences to Lim.
Penang MCA chief Datuk Tan Teik Cheng also announced an initial financial aid of RM10,000 for Lim and the setting up of a committee to help Lim rebuild his life.
“This is a very difficult time for Lim. We are sad on the passing of four of his family members.
“We will see how else we can help Lim rebuild his life,” he said.
MCA Youth chief Datuk Chong Sin Woon, who was at the mortuary, said the party would bear the full cost of the funeral and other related matters.
“We want to assure Lim that there is nothing for him to worry about,” he said. Page 1 pic: MCA Tanjung Youth chief Lim Swee Bok being consoled by relatives and friends.