JASIN: Muhammad Khairuddin Sa’ari can still hear the helpless screams of his wife and four children after they were trapped in a house fire that claimed their lives in Kampung Berangan Enam, Umbai, early Thursday (Feb 13) morning.
"I can still hear my wife calling the kids’ names...I’m sorry, Mom,” he told his mother-in-law, Ruziha Osman, 60, while receiving treatment at the Emergency and Trauma Department of Jasin Hospital here Thursday.
The 35-year-old man survived, but his wife, Laila Fathinah Mustapa, 37, and their four children - Nur Damia Batrisyia Abdullah, 13, Izz Daffa Hafizuddin, 7, Nur Dalilah Khadijah, 6, and Izz Danish Fathi, 4, - tragically lost their lives in the incident.
Earlier, Muhammad Khairuddin received a visit from Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Melaka Tun Mohd Ali Rustam and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh, who also presented him with an initial aid of RM2,000.
Meanwhile, Ruziha, who lives in Puchong, Selangor, shared that Laila Fathinah was five months pregnant with her seventh child.
Ruziha said she sent the eldest of the three siblings back to her home in Kampung Berangan Enam at around 11.30pm Wednesday (Feb 12) night, after her daughter came to visit her home on Feb 11.
"Laila Fathinah came to my house with her eight-year-old daughter, who needed follow-up treatment at a hospital after the family was involved in an accident last January in Brisu, Alor Gajah.
"The accident left my son-in-law (Muhammad Khairuddin) with a broken leg and shoulder, while my daughter and her five other kids were also injured,” she said.
Ruziha added that after sending Laila Fathinah home, she returned to Puchong with her eight-year-old granddaughter, only to be shocked by the heartbreaking news about the tragedy this morning.
"I never thought this would happen because my daughter didn’t show any change in her attitude and was as cheerful as usual,” she said, adding that Laila Fathinah also leaves behind an 18-year-old daughter, who stays with her in Puchong. - Bernama
