KUCHING: Legendary Sarawak bodybuilder Bujang Taha was left with literally the clothes on his back when a suspected short circuit razed his house in Kampung Tanjong, Petra Jaya yesterday afternoon.
PINNACLE OF DESPAIR: A despondent Bujang looking at the charred ruins of his beloved house.
PRECIOUS MEMORIES: Bujang (right) and an identified man show reporters some framed photos and certificates of his former career, which were the only items saved from the burning house.
Although the former two-time Mr Asia title holder escaped the 2.05pm incident unscathed, he was unable to salvage any of his belongings, which included RM30,000 in cash, gold jewellery, as well as his many trophies and certificates collected during his long career in the sport.
According to the 74-year-old Bujang, he had just finished lunch with his
wife and three grandchildren when he noticed smoke coming from the second storey of his wooden house.
“When I went upstairs to check, the fire had already started and smoke was everywhere.
“I couldn’t think about saving anything at the time and hurried back downstairs, telling the others to get out of the house,” said Bujang, who has been staying in Kampung Tanjong for the past 46 years.
The former bodybuilder, whose career reached its peak in the 1980s, estimated his losses at more than RM300,000, but added that he accepted the incident as fate.
Within minutes of his house being razed, the flames spread to and partially destroyed a second house belonging to Bujang’s neighbour Hood Mahmood.
Like Bujang, the 75-year-old Hood managed to escape unhurt together with his wheelchair-bound wife Daimah Jaya, 70, and their three grandchildren when the flames engulfed his three decade-old house.
Hood’s daughter rushed back from her workplace upon learning of the incident and broke down at the sight of her razed house.
Meanwhile, Petra Jaya fire station chief Madu Anggut told reporters that factors such as the proximity of the two wooden houses to each other and gusty wind played a part in the spread of the fire.
He said 28 personnel from the Petra Jaya and Padungan stations arrived at the scene in two engines and three Rapid Intervention Motorcycle (RIM) units eight minutes after a distress call was received at 2.45pm.
“The situation was brought under control at 3.08pm with no problems faced and no injuries reported,” said Madu, adding the cause of the fire was being investigated.