Freshly fired man sets fire to car

SIBU An Indonesian man, believed to be mentally ill, set fire to a car he was travelling in on Thursday (Feb 20) in Sarikei.

The incident occurred at KM20 along the Sarikei-Sibu Road, near the second Nyelong Bridge, around 9.20am.

Sarikei OCPD Supt Awang Arfian Awang Bujang said the driver of the MPV, also an Indonesian, was sending the first man home as his employer had laid him off due to his alleged mental problems.

The man from Sambas, Indonesia had been working at an oil palm plantation in Sibu.

The car meanwhile, was registered in Indonesia.

“Arriving at a place, the man suddenly took out a match and set fire to the vehicle.

“The suspect has been detained and will be referred to the hospital for further investigation, ” he said.

Meanwhile, Sarikei Fire and Rescue Department chief Mahmudin Narudin said 11 firefighters rushed to the scene upon receiving a distress call from a member of the public.

“Firefighters took only 25 minutes to extinguish the fire that had totally destroyed the car, ” Mahmudin said. -Star