A family’s Merdeka celebration turned into a nightmare when their rented home caught fire just 200 metres from where they were celebrating.
Hazwani Zainordin, 39, her husband and their three-year-old son were attending a Merdeka programme at a community hall near their flat in Taman Desa Rakyat Perdana on Aug 23 when they suddenly heard people shouting, “Fire! Fire!”
Hazwani said everything appeared normal when they left home, but about an hour later, they were alerted that their house was on fire.
“We rushed back and found the kitchen badly damaged, while almost the entire ceiling was blackened by smoke,” she said.
Neighbours managed to contain the blaze before firefighters arrived and later helped the family clean up the damaged home.
The fire, believed to have been caused by a short circuit, destroyed several electrical appliances and pieces of furniture.
Despite the damage, the family has continued living in the house because they have nowhere else to stay and cannot afford the higher rental costs of another home.
Hazwani’s husband works as a factory operator, while the family is also caring for their three-year-old son, who has heart, hearing and right-hand abnormalities.
The boy requires regular medical check-ups at the National Heart Institute and Sultanah Aminah Hospital, as well as treatment at two other hospitals, including one in Melaka.
Hazwani said the family has had to prioritise their existing financial commitments, leaving them unable to repair the fire damage immediately.
“We have put off repainting the smoke-blackened walls until we can afford it. We also have other important commitments to deal with,” she said.
