GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government is ready to assist the family of Mohd Izwan Illias, a firefighter who drowned after falling into the Perai River while on duty at the Mak Mandin marine base of the Fire and Rescue Department on Friday.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the government would examine the form of assistance needed and will coordinate with the Fire and Rescue Department for that purpose.
"I will ask the State Secretary to coordinate with the fire department to deliver early aid to the widow of the deceased (Mohd Izwan).
"If any other help is warranted, we can manage it together," he said after inaugurating the Bukit Gelugor parliamentary service centre here on Saturday (Feb 24).
The deceased fireman leaves behind widow Jamaliah Abd Majid, 42, and five children aged four to 16.
Chow added that the state is also ready to provide a People's Housing Project (PPR) house for rental if there is a request from the fire brigade or the family concerned.
On Friday (Feb 23), its director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad said it would coordinate with the Penang state government to look into the welfare of the deceased’s family.
However, Chow said so far he has not yet been contacted by any party for that purpose but is ready to cooperate.
Chow meanwhile expressed his condolences to the family of the deceased.
In the incident at 10.10pm on Thursday (Feb 22), Mohd Izwan who is also a member of the Butterworth Fire and Rescue Station died after falling into the Perai River while working on boat engine maintenance at the jetty.
His body was found by a search and rescue team at 5.32pm on Friday after a 19-hour operation, within a radius of 20m from where he fell.
His remains were buried on Friday in his family's hometown in Pekan Darat, Seberang Perai Utara with full firefighting honours. - Bernama
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