Sarawak government to assist Yahya’s family, says Fatimah

KUCHING: The Sarawak government will assist the family of the late Yahya Ali, 24, who perished together with five other personnel of Fire and Rescue Department ( Bomba) during a Search and Rescue ( SAR) operation at a mine near Taman Putra Perdana, Puchong, Selangor Wednesday.

Minister of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Dvelopment Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, however, said she had not yet ascertained the type of assistance to be given to the family.

She said she had to consult Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, who is on tour of duty overseas, before she could make an announcement.

Fatimah, the Dalat assemblywoman, said she would raise the matter during the Cabinet meeting on Oct 18. She said this after a press conference on the holding of the 12th Early Childhood Education Convention, yesterday.

Fatimah said Yahya’s demise was a big loss to Sarawak and the nation because ‘ he was one of those willing to sacrifice their life to save others. It also happened during an on- going SAR operation’.

The tragedy would cause sadness in his family and his circle of friends too, she said.

The Selangor government yesterday pledged to donate RM20,000 to each of the families of the Fire and Rescue personnel who perished in the tragedy.

Yahya, is the eldest of four siblings from Kampung Tian, Matu.

He was attached to the Port Klang fire station, and was the youngest among the six victims.

The SAR operation was meant for a 17-year- old youth who had fallen into the mine hole, and Yahya and his colleagues were said to be washed away by strong current, and drowned.

The other five victims are Mohd Fatah Hashim 34, Izatul Akma Wan Ibrahim 32, Mazlan Omarbaki 25, Adnan Othman 33, and Muhammad Hifdzul Malik Shaari, 25.

The tragedy was the first of its kind in the country involving SAR personnel.