KOTA KINABALU: Angry at being asked to vacate his home for not paying his rent, a 47-year-old man thought he could exact his revenge on his landlord by allegedly burning the structure.
The fire he allegedly started, however, not only destroyed the house but also about 60 others at the Kampung Titingan settlement in the east coast district of Tawau just after midnight, killing an 82-year-old man.
The blaze also left hundreds of people homeless.
Tawau district police chief Asst Comm Fadil Marsus said the man was arrested near the scene of the fire at about 2am on Tuesday, and tested positive for the synthetic drug syabu.
ACP Fadil said villagers told police the fire started in the house occupied by the suspect.
Sabah Fire and Rescue Services Department operations chief Khatizah Rahaban said they were alerted to the fire at about 12.55am, and four fire engines and 26 firemen arrived at the scene five minutes later.
She said another fire engine was also despatched from Kunak.
Bomba managed to bring the blaze under control at about 2.30am and fully extinguish it an hour and a half later, she added.
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