Thursday August 25, 2011
Nine-year-old girl killed in fire
By TAN SIN CHOW and HAFIZ MARZUKHI
north@thestar.com.my
The nine-year-old, however, was killed in a fire which gutted her house and six others in Kampung Sungai Nibong Kechil here.
Her badly-burned body was found an hour after the 5.30am fire in front of a neighbour's house yesterday.
Her mother, Munira Abdullah, 36, said Zulaikha, a Year Three student in SK Bayan Baru, had been absent from school for the past two weeks because of her poor health.
She said the family planned to get Zulaikha, who had epilepsy, and her siblings new clothes for Raya.
“Zulaikha was really looking forward to celebrating Raya after hearing the sound of firecrackers,” she said.
Her eldest brother, Mohd Zulfikar, 15, said he managed to get everyone out of the house after learning that a fire had broken out in one of the rooms on the upper floor of the house.
He said Zulaikha and a few others were taking a nap in the living room after having their sahur meal (pre-dawn meal).
“Everyone got out of the house, including my sister Zulaikha, as I had carried her out.
“We only realised she was missing sometime later.
Aftermath: The remains of Zulaikha’s house after the fire yesterday. The fire razed seven houses and left at least 30 people homeless. The fire, which razed seven houses, left at least 30 people homeless.
Pantai Jerejak assemblyman Sim Tze Tzin said RM20,000 as well as blankets and mats were given to the 14 families affected by the fire.
