Lee assures fire victims will receive additional assistance through Welfare Dept

Lee (third from right) handing over assistance to Sahriel during his visit to the site on Friday.

By Brad Rantayy

MIRI, March 11: Minister of Transport Sarawak Datuk Sri Lee Kim Shin has assured victims of a fire whose house was destroyed on Thursday night in Jalan Tanjung Batu 1A ,Kampung Padang Kerbau that they would receive much-needed assistance.

“I have called up the Miri Welfare Department and we will arrange for immediate assistance to be given to the victims,” he said on Friday afternoon after handing over assistance to Mohamad Sahriel Abdullah, 25.

In last night’s incident, the house which was occupied by Sahriel and his 59 year-old mother, Asiah Morshidi, was destroyed after a fire broke out at around 10.12pm.

They managed to escape, but the mother sustained burn injuries to her hand and forehead.

“Both my mom and I were watching TV prior to the incident, and at around 10.12pm I heard weird noises coming from outside, so I went to check,” said Sahriel when met by reporters today.

He was stunned to see a huge fire engulfing the house’s car porch.

“I rushed inside the house and grabbed my mother, and as we were evacuating the house, she was injured. Fortunately we managed to flee in time,” he said. — DayakDaily