USJ 2 fire: Granny stoic in face of tragedy

BUTTERWORTH: THE 80-year-old grandmother was a picture of strength as she peered  into the caskets of four family members who died in a fire at their double-storey house in USJ 2, Selangor, on Monday.

Yeoh Ah Keow lost her son, Lim Ah Kok, 58, her daughter-in-law, Goh Bee Khim, 52, and her grandsons, Lim Yong Lieng, 20, and Lim Yong Wei, 17.

Her granddaughter, Lim Yi Jun, 23, was at her hostel at the time.

“It really pains me to lose my son, daughter-in-law and grandsons in the blink of an eye,” she said.

“However, I have come to accept their deaths as fated and the whole family will continue to be strong to support my granddaughter.”

It was a poignant scene as tearful relatives walked around the caskets to have a look at Ah Kok, Goh, Yong Lieng and Yong Wei.

Ah Kok’s casket was placed alongside Goh’s in the same cubicle, while the caskets of their sons were placed in a neighbouring cubicle.

Prayers were recited for the deceased. Yeoh said she last saw Ah Kok and his family during the Chinese Year New celebration.

“We had the annual reunion dinner and he was his usual cheerful self. I will definitely miss it next year. Maybe it’s a sign,” she said, adding that she had asked for a family photo to be taken, but Ah Kok had refused as they had already had pictures shot during a birthday celebration in December.

Earlier, a lorry bearing the four caskets had arrived at Mak Mandin funeral parlour, where the wake will be held until the funeral on Friday.

Several family members were on hand to receive the caskets. 

Yeoh said Ah Kok and his family left for home on the third day of Chinese New Year.

She said the family could not understand how the fire could have broken out as Ah Kok was known to be meticulous when it came to switching off electrical appliances.

Ah Kok’s younger brother, Ah Bak, 55, said the family would lend their full support to  Yi Jun.

“Let’s give her time and space to grief. This is a very difficult and emotional time for the family. 

“We want her to know that she still has all of us around her,” he said, adding that the family would let Yi Jun finish her studies and decide on her future.

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