Monday March 5, 2012

Workers hostel, guard house reduced to ashes

KUCHING: A fire reduced a seven- roomed workers hostel of a coal factory and a guard house to ashes but an Indonesian couple’s saving which was kept in the Holy Quran remained intact.

The Indonesian man, Saruju, 25, and his wife Ariani, 23, were staying in room no. 4 and the fire started in room no. 5.

Saruju said he just received his salary and went out with his wife to town. He said that when he learnt of the fire, he hurried back to the hostel at Demak Laut.

Saruju and his wife were very sad when they saw their room on fire. It was one of the employers who also works at the factory and staying at another workers hostel who spotted the fire.

In despair: Ariani (left) carrying a plastic bag containing items she just bought in town.

The employer, who refused to be named, said he went back to his hostel to get something when he passed by the hostel and smelled something burning.

When he saw the fire, he contacted the fire department at 12.14pm. The department sent 24 fire fighters from Tabuan and Pandungan. The fire was put out at 1.01pm. According to Tabuan fire chief, Tawang Lingem, the fire completely destroyed the hostel and the guard house.

When the fire had been put out, Saruju sought help from the fire fighters to salvage his savings (RM2,000) which he kept it in the Quran. Saruju found the Quran later and gave it to Ariani, who was clearly relieved.

“My husband told me that he wanted to bring the money out but I told him that I was afraid that we might be robbed, so he kept it in the Holy Quran.

“I thought we had lost our money and our property in the fire but now the money is safe,” said Ariani.

An investigation team has started probing the cause of fire.

News

Monday March 5, 2012

Workers hostel, guard house reduced to ashes