Thursday, Nov 01, 2012
A grandmother was burned to death in Bintulu, Sarawak, on Saturday, after saving her two-year-old grandchild from an early morning fire.
The fire also razed the homes of six other families there.
Ms Junaidah Abdullah, 58, rushed back into her burning house to retrieve her belongings after carrying her grandchild to safety.
Her husband, Mr Nawi Samsuddin, 57, said she was trying to save some of her personal belongings, reported the New Straits Times.
Her charred body was found in the kitchen by firefighters some two hours after the 6.30am fire. She was buried on Saturday afternoon.
'She never came out'
Said Mr Nawi: "I was in the bathroom when my wife shouted, 'fire, fire'.
"When I rushed out of the bathroom, my thoughts were only on getting my two grandchildren to safety."
He managed to grab one of them out of the house.
"I was told my wife had taken the other to safety.
"She somehow rushed back into the house, probably to save some of her valuables. She never came out," he said.
Mr Nawi not only lost his wife but also the wooden house he called home for 28 years.
It was completely levelled.
"There was nothing I could save. My MyKad and all important documents were lost. My valuables, too. I lost everything," he added.
Two fire engines were sent to fight the fire and it was only brought under control at 7.25am.
While the fire department estimated the losses to be around RM2 million (S$800,000), it has yet to ascertain the cause of the blaze.
Among the first people to offer condolences to Mr Nawi and to assist the victims was their state assemblyman Talib Zulpilip.
Mr Talib, who is also state assistant minister, was accompanied by Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu Jepak branch chairman Saidi Abang Samsudin.
They offered cash, food, drinks and clothing.
The Department of Special Affairs and the Welfare Department also offered assistance
