Neighbours can only watch as house burns
Neighbours could only watch helplessly as an early morning blaze destroyed the twostorey cluster home of MCA Tanjung Youth chief Lim Swee Bok at Pintasan Cecil 5, Pengkalan Weld here yesterday.
Lim’s wife, Chen Yen, 35, children Lim Yin Chun, 9, and Lim Yia Yiin, 8, and mother Lau Sai Poh, 62, were killed in the fire.
Neighbour Lye Chooi Ngoh, 51, said she was awakened at 6am by shouts outside her house, calling for her to come out because of the fire next door.
“People were honking their cars (that’s what woke me up).
“And the only thing I saw was the huge fire.
“(Once outside, I tried to help) put out the fire while waiting for the firemen, but the fire was too intense for us.
“We could only wait until the firemen arrived and put out the blaze.
“I was very worried for the safety of the four people inside.”
Lye said her dog kept barking for no reason at 4am and she had to give it food so that it would stop barking.
“At that time, Lim’s family was safe and sound,” she said.
Lye said she had spent time with Chen and Lau until 1am yesterday, helping them staple calendars.
Lau had taken on a freelance job of folding calenders.
“As it was already 1am, I advised them to take a rest, but they continued their work for a few more hours.
“That was the last time I saw them,” said Lye, who had become close to the family since she moved in a year ago.
“I feel very sorry for Lim (Swee Bok). He just lost his father nine days ago.
“Now, he lost his whole family,” she said.