A man sparked a fire after losing control of his emotions, using a lighter to set paper ablaze, which quickly spread to nearby homes. The man has since been arrested by police.
The incident occurred on Sunday evening (17th) in the Chinese New Village of Sungai Lalang.
Assistant Commissioner Han Yan, head of the Kuala Muda District Police, stated in a press release that police received a report around 7:00 PM on Sunday. The informant reported that their home was on fire and suspected that the culprit was their 39-year-old brother.
“Investigations revealed that the informant, the suspect, and another elder brother were living under the same roof. During initial questioning, the suspect admitted that he lost control of his emotions and used a lighter to ignite paper, which caused the fire,” the statement said.
The suspect is currently being detained for further investigation, with the case being pursued under Section 436 of the Penal Code (arson).
The Dalian Fire Department received the report at 7:30 PM on Sunday and immediately dispatched fire trucks and water tankers, with additional support from the Bakar Aran, Xin Wen Ying, and Mei Nong volunteer fire brigades.
However, firefighting efforts were hampered as many houses in the village are semi-brick and semi-wood structures, and the narrow roads made it difficult for fire trucks to access the area. Residents rushed to move their valuables and helped evacuate an elderly woman with limited mobility to safety.
