GEORGE TOWN: Police have classified the death of a Myanmar man found in a fire at the former Odeon building along Jalan Penang on Saturday (May 30) night as a sudden death.
Northeast District deputy police chief Supt Lee Swee Sake said police received information about the blaze from the public at 8.50pm, before firefighters later found the body of the 56-year-old victim.
He advised the public against speculating on the incident, as it could affect investigations into the cause of death and the Fire and Rescue Department’s probe into the cause of the fire.
Supt Lee said the premises were being renovated into a restaurant, and the victim is believed to have been a worker with the contractor carrying out the works. However, investigations are still ongoing.
Meanwhile, Penang Fire and Rescue Department director Mohamad Shoki Hamzah said in a statement on Sunday (May 31) that overhaul work was still ongoing following extensive roof and concrete wall collapses, which had restricted firefighters' access to the centre of the building to carry out cooling works.
Mohamad Shoki said an estimated 70 per cent of the entertainment outlet, now known as Midnight Black, was destroyed in the fire.
The victim, identified as Mohamad Boshi Sabi Ullah, was found with first-degree burns near the building’s exit after the fire was put out at about 11.15pm.
His body has been sent to Penang Hospital for a post-mortem.
Meanwhile, Mohamad Shoki said 38 firefighters from four stations – Lebuh Pantai, Jalan Perak, Bayan Baru and Paya Terubong – were involved in the firefighting operation, supported by 16 members of the Volunteer Fire Brigade, while a fire command post has also been activated at the scene to coordinate the operation.
The building, which once housed one of Penang’s most iconic cinemas, has been part of the state’s entertainment landscape since the early 20th century.
It was originally known as the Theatre Royal, then as the King’s Theatre.
In 1940, the premises underwent major modernisation before reopening as the Odeon Cinema, featuring advanced projection, sound and air-conditioning systems for its time.
Well known for featuring both Western and Asian films throughout the decades, it ceased operations on July 31, 2014. Over the years, it changed hands multiple times and was eventually turned into an entertainment joint. – Bernama
