Counselling can help cope with loss

3

EMOTIONAL SCARS: Salleh in the midst of his brood at the scene of the fire. Norliana (right) is seen holding her sister.

KUCHING: Norliana Salleh, 17, who rescued her six siblings from their burning home on Monday but forgot about their youngest who died in the flames, might need counselling along with her family to get over the trauma.

Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Datin Fatimah Abdullah told The Borneo Post this regarding the fire at Taman Malihah, Matang near here which took the life of the toddler.

One-year-old Shahfizan Salleh died in the flames.

Fatimah said: “It is a traumatic experience which would leave an emotional scar. This tragedy is indeed sad. A 17-year-old is still considered a minor, a child, under the law. Considering that she was alone in taking care of her siblings, all of the children especially Norliana should be given counselling by social workers from the Welfare Department.”

Norliana was left alone to take care of her seven siblings as their father Salleh Hamid and mother Rapilah Rabaie, both 38, were out working when the fire broke out at 4pm.

Salleh was working at a nearby construction site while Rapilah manning a banana fritter stall at a junction near their home.

Fatimah said government assistance to the victims would be channelled through the Welfare Department.

Aid in terms of basic needs such as clothing, food and others would be handed out by the welfare officer.

BURNT TO CINDERS: What’s left of the family home.

“Here is a case of a mother  trying to make ends meet by earning extra income selling banana fritters only a short distant away from home. Not too far if security is concerned, considering that she only starts  her business after all  of  her  children are back from school. Leaving the children behind are among the many dilemma often faced by the urban poor.”

In the light of the incident, Fatimah suggested that the relevant agencies provide relevant assistance to the urban poor.

Tupong assemblyman Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman, when contacted, said the family would be put up in temporary accommodation for the time being.

The Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs) hoped the family had insured their four-year-old house.

The family is temporarily putting up at RPR Taman Malihah II community hall.

Shahfizan was the youngest of eight siblings: five sisters aged 17, 14, 12, nine and three, and two brothers aged 11 and six.

Recalling the ordeal, eldest Norliana stated that she and her siblings were sleeping in one of the bedrooms when the fire broke out.

Baby Shahfizan was sleeping in another room.

In between sobs, she explained that she managed to drag all her younger siblings out of the room, but forgot about the baby sleeping in another room in the commotion.

“I dashed  out  of  the house together with my other siblings. I didn’t know that Shahfizan was still inside. By the time I realised that he was still in the burning house, it was already too late. I could have saved him,” she cried in anguish.

Some of the neighbours tried to brave the flames only to be forced back by the intense heat.

They said entering the house was already impossible due to thick smoke and intense heat.

Petra Jaya Fire Department chief Terry Robson when met at the scene said they received a distress call around 4.50pm.

Two fire engines, one each from Petra Jaya and Batu Lintang were dispatched to the scene, arriving at 5.10pm and the fire brought under control around 5.45pm.

The baby could not be saved as firefighters only spotted  him  around  5.30pm.