Double tragedy for MCA man

> Tanjong Youth head loses entire family in fire days after father passed away due to cancer

GEORGE TOWN: A pre-dawn fire wiped out the entire immediate family of an upcoming politician here yesterday – days after he lost his father to cancer during the height of the floods.

Penang MCA Tanjong division Youth head Lim Swee Bok was working at a factory near the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone when he was informed of the tragedy.

Lim's mother Lau Sai Poh, 62, his China national wife Chen Yen, 35, and son Lim Yin Chun, nine, were found on the ground floor while daughter Lim Jia Yiin, eight, on the top floor. Swee Bok’s father passed away on Nov 5. The fire is believed to have started on the ground floor at about 6am and spread quickly before engulfing the top floor of the double-storey unit in Pintasan Cecil 5 in Cecil Street Ghaut road.

Firemen in six fire engines arrived at 6.45am within minutes of a distress call.

They managed to contain the fire, and upon entering, they found the bodies.

The victims are believed to have been overcome by excess smoke inhalation.

According to state Fire and Rescue Department director Saadon Mokhtar, the victims realised too late that their home was on fire, and could not make it in time.

There was just one access to the doublestorey house, built in a cluster with other similar houses.

There were signs that the victims had tried to escape but it was too late, said Saadon, who pledged a full-scale investigation with the help of forensic specialists.

The neighbourhood is one of the oldest Chinese settlements in Penang, whose residents are mostly from the middleincome bracket.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who is also the DAP secretary-general, consoled Swee Bok at the Penang Hospital mortuary.

Lim offered, on behalf of the state, to pay for the funeral expenses.

Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow, DAP veteran Phee Boon Poh and Penang MCA liaison committee chairman Datuk Tan Teik Cheng also paid their respects.

Penang Opposition leader Datuk Jahara Hamid also conveyed her condolences.

MCA Youth head Senator Datuk Chong Sin Woon said the party will handle the funeral arrangements and help Swee Bok rebuild his life.