Children to hold funeral for parents after Sungai Lembing fire

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Raja Permaisuri Agong visit the scene of the fire at Sungai Lembing, Pahang, yesterday. (Bernama pic)

KUANTAN: Although only the remains of their mother were found, the children of an elderly couple believed to have perished in the blaze in Sungai Lembing near here on Aug 31 will hold funeral ceremonies for both parents.

Ho Poh Ling, 40, the second of four siblings, said the family has accepted the fate of their father Ho Yuk Fun, 74, and mother Chow Kim Mui, 70.

“We knew our parents could not be rescued due to the raging fire. Until now, my father has not been found even if it is true that he had survived.

“The funeral will be held soon as it has been two weeks now. We want a proper ceremony to honour our parents,” she told Bernama.

Poh Ling was met at Dewan SJK(C) Sungai Lembing here yesterday after a visit by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.

Tunku Azizah was visibly moved and could not hold back her tears as she hugged Poh Ling to express her sympathy.

Poh Ling, who works at a tour agency in Kuala Lumpur, said they were informed yesterday of the DNA test that confirmed the remains found as her mother’s.

She said the family had also decided to postpone their younger brother’s wedding scheduled to have been held on Sept 8 in Singapore.

Recalling the day of the incident, Poh Ling said she received a call from her cousin at about 2am telling her that several buildings, including her family’s two-storey shophouse, were ablaze in Sungai Lembing.

“I headed home and on the way, I kept asking how my parents were. My cousin told me not to worry and just come home.

“Somehow, I sensed that my parents were not all right and this was confirmed when I was told that the firefighters had found a body believed to be my mother’s at 6am,” she said.

Poh Ling said their last family gathering was during the Aidiladha holiday and that her younger brother had called her mother the night before the fire.

In the 1.30am tragedy, Ho and Chow were believed to have been trapped in their home that was among 32 buildings, comprising 20 two-storey wooden shophouses, 11 single-storey houses and a library, destroyed. - FMT