KUANTAN: Sungai Lembing villagers, in the aftermath of the horrific fire that razed 32 buildings and believed to have taken the lives of an elderly couple, have resolved to stay strong and focus on rebuilding their lives and homes.
When met by Bernama today at the hall of Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (C) Sungai Lembing, which served as a temporary relief centre for the fire victims, Kong Swee Leng, 65, whose two-storey provision shop was destroyed in the blaze said she would rebuild again on the same site.
“I have lived here for more than 50 years after getting married so it (the shophouse) is of great sentimental value to me. I have nowhere else to go,” she said.
Kong hoped that Pahang state government would assist villagers in the rebuilding effort as the former tin mining village is a heritage area.
The razed buildings, believed to be about 100-years-old, comprised 20 two-storey shophouses, 11 single-storey terrace houses and a library.
While waiting for the shophouse to be reconstructed, Kong said she plans to stay with her children and relatives.
"It will be on a rotational basis... so I don’t have to inconvenient them for too long.” she said.
Meanwhile, Chang Fam Meng @ Chen Fam Meng, 83, who has lived alone in the home left by her parents at the village, said she was unfazed by the struggles ahead.
"Villagers are kind hearted and care for one another." she said.
Another villager, Yong Siew Meng, 43, said he is planning to rebuild an exact replica of the family home which she had just lost to maintain the identity of the village.
Meanwhile, Pahang Fire and Rescue Department deputy director (operations) Ismail Abdul Ghani said the search for Ho Yok Fun, 74, suspected to have perished in the fire with his wife, has been temporarily halted at 3.15pm today.
“Until now, we sent out four sniffer dogs from our K9 unit to search for the victim and to also help locate the source of the fire,” he said, adding that the investigation has been handed over to the police to pursue a missing person's line of inquiry.
In their search yesterday following the blaze, firemen found a charred remains, believed to be that of Ho’s wife, Chow Kim Mui, 70.
Authorities are waiting for the results of the forensic investigations and DNA tests to confirm the matter. -- BERNAMA