Family of six escapes as home set ablaze over alleged debt

KUALA LUMPUR: A family of six escaped a fiery end when their residence in Taman Cheras Prima, Kajang, near here, was believed to have been set on fire early yesterday.

The family who was asleep during the incident around 1.50 am was awakened by the father, Ng Peng Cheoi, 49, who had smelt smoke coming from the living room. They then managed to escape through a window on the second floor before firemen arrived at the scene.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department Head of Operations Management and Station, Alimaddia Bukri said in the rush to escape from the fire, the family’s youngest, Ng Min Jin, 13, suffered back injuries.

“The victim was sent to the Kajang Hospital and is being treated at the intensive care unit,” he said when contacted here yesterday.

The other victims who escaped unhurt were the teenager’s parents, Peng Cheoi and Teng Chui Ai, 43, as well as her three other siblings Ng Min Jun,19, Ng Min Yun,16 and Ng Min Xuan,14.

Alimaddia said following a distress call received at 1.54 am, a team of firemen from the Kajang and Pandan Indah Fire and Rescue Station were deployed to the scene and around 2.13 am the fire was under control.

He added that fire had destroyed 80 per cent of the lower part of the doublestorey terrace house.

Meanwhile, Kajang police chief ACP Ahmad Dzaffir Mohd Yussof said initial investigation revealed that the front door had been locked from outside using a padlock, while the family’s Nissan Frontier that was parked outside had been vandalised with red paint and there was also scribbling on the vehicle, demanding for them to pay their debts.

He said investigation on the motive of the incident was underway and the suspects were sought by the police to facilitate investigations.