GERIK: "My mother told our neighbour that she wanted to stay longer at the orchard. At that time I felt it was normal and didn't expect that was one of the signs that she would leave us."
These were the words of Saudin Mohamad, 37, son of Rahmah Zainon, 76, who was perished in a fire at an orchard in Kampung Air Tarung, Jalan Air Ganda here today.
Also killed in the 4am fire was his sister, Razilawati Mohamad, 43 who was also a disabled person with visual impairment.
Saudin said during the incident, his mother, sister and father, Mohamad Abdul Latif, 84, were sleeping in the hut at the orchard.
Saudis who is the eighth of nine siblings said that he and other siblings who mostly hail from Kuala Ketil, Kedah had a family gathering at the orchard on Saturday in conjunction with the school break.
He said it was common for his parents to spend the night in the village that their family has owned for the past 37 years, especially during the fruit season.
"We arrived here on Friday and had a meal the next night (Saturday). But it was only last night around 9pm that all of us except my parents and sister returned to Kuala Ketil.
"We arrived home at 1am but at about 4am, I received a call from a neighbour saying that the hut in our village was on fire.
"Our family often goes to that village, it can be said every two weeks. My father survived and only suffered burns on his hand in the incident," he told reporters when met at the Forensic Unit of Gerik Hospital here, today.
Saudin said he was told by his father that the fire was caused by a kettle being heated on the gas stove in the hut made of wood and boards.
"My father woke up from sleep when the fire started to spread and tried to put it out. However, due to his age and the condition of his knees, he managed to save himself.
"My mother also suffered from knee pain and my sister whose movements needed to be guided," he said adding that their bodies would be laid to rest at Kampung Guar Chempedak Muslim Cemetery in Kuala Ketil today.
Earlier, it was reported that a Perak Fire and Rescue Department spokesperson said they received a distress call at 7.38am and a team of firemen from Gerik were rushed to the scene.
The spokesperson said that they received a call from the police saying that there was a hut on fire in an orchard. It was then put out by members of the public.