Nine-year-old boy awarded Hang Tuah medal for saving family from fire

JOHOR BARU: A nine-year-old boy who saved his family by waking then up when a fire broke out at their house in the wee hours of the morning has been rewarded with a medal.

For his outstanding act of bravery, Altamis Faiz Shahrullizam, the second of five siblings, was conferred with the Hang Tuah Medal in conjunction with the National Children's Day 2023 celebration on Monday (Nov 20).

The Year Three schoolboy from SK Desa Aman, Sungai Buloh, said he was in the room he shared with his three-year-old brother while his parents and three other siblings were in their own bedrooms when the fire broke out at 4am at their house in Bandar Sri Coalfields, Selangor last September.

"I was awakened by a very strong smell of smoke and quickly woke up my parents and other siblings.

"I vividly remember the incident – I was terrified but somehow managed to gather up the courage," he told reporters after receiving the medal from Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.

Altamis said his courage came from discipline he acquired by training in silat, which he had practised since age six.

He also said he was big fan of local animated series "Upin and Ipin".

His mother, Fazreen Ismail, 39, expressed pride in her son's bravery, who not only woke them up but was quick grab the house keys to unlock the doors.

"Once we were outside, Altamis alerted our neighbours while my husband and my eldest son tried to put out the blaze," said the civil servant.

Although 70% of her house was damaged in the fire, Fazreen was still grateful no one was hurt.

Apart from the medal, Altamis also received a cash award of RM5,000.

Meanwhile, the Anugerah Gemilang Kebudayaan dan Kesenian was conferred to Ahmad Mikhail Damsal Abdul Hakim, 14; Anugerah Gemilang Sukan to Emelda Camalia Abd Razak, 13; and Anugerah Gemilang OKU was presented to Nurr Arissa Irdiani Azizi, 13.

Almost 400 children from across the country attended the national-level celebration themed "Our Rights Our Future". – Bernama