A lesson to be learnt for Wangsa Permai Resident Association committee not to insist on its way of ensuring security....
Boom gate delays firemen in saving woman, daughter
It was a tragic case of so near, and yet so far. A woman and her daughter perished in a fire as their housing area's gated entrance delayed firemen from rescuing them from their blazing Taman Sri Sinar home in Kepong.
Ironically, the woman's husband, Celven Loke, who is a volunteer fire services chief for Kepong, was in Merlimau, Malacca to help in the nomination process for the coming by-election.
In the blaze, Ong Ean Lee, 33, and Artina Loke Xin Yu, two, were burnt to death as they were trapped in their home. The bodies were sent to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital.
A resident, A Ananthan, 34, said he was at home when he heard Ong's screams for help at 5.45am.
"The woman shouted 'abang' twice... but then I could no longer hear her. I went out to see what happened and saw her house engulfed by flames," he told reporters at the scene.
Ananthan said after contacting the fire and rescue department, he and a group of neighbours formed a 'bucket brigade' in an attempt to put out the rapidly spreading blaze.
"When the firemen arrived 10 minutes later, they were unable to enter the premises because security guards on duty could not be found to raise the bar gate.
"Left with no choice, the firmen had to cut through the bar, located about 200 metres from the victim's home before they could assist with putting out the fire," he said.
Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department director Othman Abdullah said the department received a call at 6.11am before despatching 27 firemen in two fire engines from the Jinjang and Sri Hartamas fire stations.
Husband mulls legal action
Meanwhile, Ong's husband, Loke, a Gerakan party member, told reporters at the hospital that he was informed of the blaze about 7am.
"I received a call from my neighbour, informing me that my house was ablaze, but I did not know my wife and only child were killed until it was confirmed by the fire and rescue department," he said.
Loke said he was contemplating taking legal action against those responsible for the security of the housing area.
"As the security guards were not around at the time of the fire, the firemen wasted (precious) time cutting through the bar," he added.
- Bernama
Ironically, the woman's husband, Celven Loke, who is a volunteer fire services chief for Kepong, was in Merlimau, Malacca to help in the nomination process for the coming by-election.
In the blaze, Ong Ean Lee, 33, and Artina Loke Xin Yu, two, were burnt to death as they were trapped in their home. The bodies were sent to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital.
A resident, A Ananthan, 34, said he was at home when he heard Ong's screams for help at 5.45am.
"The woman shouted 'abang' twice... but then I could no longer hear her. I went out to see what happened and saw her house engulfed by flames," he told reporters at the scene.
Ananthan said after contacting the fire and rescue department, he and a group of neighbours formed a 'bucket brigade' in an attempt to put out the rapidly spreading blaze.
"When the firemen arrived 10 minutes later, they were unable to enter the premises because security guards on duty could not be found to raise the bar gate.
"Left with no choice, the firmen had to cut through the bar, located about 200 metres from the victim's home before they could assist with putting out the fire," he said.
Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department director Othman Abdullah said the department received a call at 6.11am before despatching 27 firemen in two fire engines from the Jinjang and Sri Hartamas fire stations.
Husband mulls legal action
Meanwhile, Ong's husband, Loke, a Gerakan party member, told reporters at the hospital that he was informed of the blaze about 7am.
"I received a call from my neighbour, informing me that my house was ablaze, but I did not know my wife and only child were killed until it was confirmed by the fire and rescue department," he said.
Loke said he was contemplating taking legal action against those responsible for the security of the housing area.
"As the security guards were not around at the time of the fire, the firemen wasted (precious) time cutting through the bar," he added.
- Bernama
