GEORGE TOWN: The pain of losing four family members in a blink of an eye is too much for anyone, MCA Tanjung Youth chief Lim Swee Bok included.
Clad in a white t-shirt, he appeared grief-stricken at the wake of his four loved ones held at the Sri Saujana Flat in Lebuh Macallum here today.
Lim lost his wife Chen Yen, 35, children Lim Yin Chun, 9 and Lim Yia Yiin, 8, as well as his mother Lau Sai Poh, 62, to a fire that gutted their double-storey cluster house at Pintasan Cecil 5 in Pengkalan Weld on Wednesday.
He was seen holding back tears when relatives, friends and his party comrades came to pay their last respects and offered him condolences.
Among those present were MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, vice-president Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun and state chairman Datuk Tan Teik Cheng.
Lim was in tears as he spoke to Liow, who comforted him and advised him to stay strong.
Liow later told reporters that Lim is under immense distress after losing four family members, just nine days after he lost his father to cancer.
“He is feeling immense sorrow due to the loss of his loved ones.
“We (MCA) will continue to give him the much needed support and assistance. We hope that he can overcome this challenge,” he said.
Liow said Chew had also arranged a special counselling session for Lim.
“We hope this can help him manage and overcome the loss he is feeling,” he added.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's political secretary Wong Nai Chee, who attended the wake, conveyed Najib’s and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor's heartfelt condolences to Lim.
“The prime minister is deeply saddened over Lim’s losses,” he added.
Also present to pay their last respects were state legislative assembly speaker Datuk Law Choo Kiang and PKR Machang Bubok assemblyman Lee Khai Loon.
In the 6am incident, the charred remains of Lau, Chen and Yin Chun were found on the ground floor of their house, while Yia Yiin was found on the first floor.
Lim, an engineer at a factory in Bayan Lepas, was on night shift at the time of the incident.
Their funerals will be held this Sunday at the Batu Gantung crematorium.