Tragic loss for MCA man
Tragedy comes on the heels of dad’s death from cancer two weeks ago
Two weeks after his dad died, the rest of Tanjung MCA Youth chief’s family members are killed in fire.
GEORGE TOWN: Barely two weeks after his 72-year-old father died of cancer, Tanjung MCA Youth chief Lim Swee Bok suffered another tragic loss when his entire family perished in a fire which gutted his two-storey house in Pintasan Cecil 5 here.
His Chinese national wife Chen Yan, 35, son Yin Chun, 10, daughter Jia Ying, nine, and mother Lau Sai Poh, 62, died in the blaze, which occurred at about 6am yesterday.
Swee Bok, 36, who works as an engineer at a factory in Bayan Lepas, was said to have been at work at the time of the incident.
Firemen found three bodies huddled together in the toilet while another, said to be that of Jia Ying, was found on the first floor.
Neighbour Sally Lim, 35, said she saw the family still awake when she passed by the house at 3am.
“I jokingly told them to go to bed as it was late,” she said.
Another neighbour Lye Chooi Ngoh, 51, said she was awakened by people outside shouting that there was a fire.
“I ran outside, saw the house ablaze and tried to stop the fire from spreading using a water hose. My other neighbours then called the Fire and Rescue Department,” she said.
Penang Fire and Rescue Department director Saadon Mokhtar said 20 firemen from the Beach Street and Perak Road fire stations rushed to the scene and managed to put out the fire at 7.10am.
“The bodies were all retrieved by 7.50am. We believe the victims only woke up after the fire engulfed most of the building.
“The houses are built close to one another and all the units here have no back door, so they were trapped,” he said, adding that the cause of the fire was still being investigated.
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak expressed his condolences to Swee Bok.
“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,” the Prime Minister tweeted.
Swee Bok was seen at the Penang Hospital mortuary with MCA Youth chief Datuk Chong Sin Woon, Penang MCA chairman Datuk Tan Teik Cheng and other state MCA and Gerakan leaders.
Chong said the party would bear the cost of the funeral.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who was at the scene, said the state would do whatever it could to help Swee Bok, who is also Penang State Youth Council president.
The wake is being held at the Sri Saujana flats on Macallum Street Ghaut.
The two children were described as sweet and obedient by their teachers and classmates.
Yin Chun and Jia Ying were pupils of SJK(C) Li Tek in Macallum Street here.
Yin Chun’s teacher, who only wanted to be known as Gan, said the boy was hardworking and ranked second in his class.
“He was also really sweet and obedient. We just saw him recently, so it is hard to believe that he will not be coming to school anymore.
“We only found out about the fire after we checked to find out why they were both absent today,” she said in an interview.
Jia Ying’s teacher, who wished to be identified only as Lee, said she was a sweet and considerate girl who would often bring souvenirs back for everyone after going on holidays.
“She also had a good temperament. Her classmates were shocked and saddened when they heard the news,” she added.
Jia Ying’s best friend Yin Cai Yun said they were all sad to have lost a friend.
“I won’t be able to see her anymore and we won’t be able to do our homework together in the afternoons.
“It is so sudden. We even made plans to play at her house this Sunday,” she said.