FATHER'S WISH TO GIVE CHILDREN "DUIT RAYA " UP IN SMOKE

KUALA TERENGGANU, Aug 2 (Bernama) -- A father''s wish to give Aidilfitri

money to his children went unfulfilled when his house was destroyed by fire

which also turned all his savings to ashes, this morning.

In the incident at 11.30am at Kampung Atas Tol here, almost 90 per cent of

the wood and stone house belonging to Mustaffa Abu Bakar, 56, was destroyed.

Mustaffa, who retired as a driver with Kuala Terengganu City Hall last

month, said he kept the family''s savings of RM7,000 in the house for Ramadan and

Aidilfitri.

He said during the incident, he was with his three-year-old grandson on the

veranda of the house, when he smelled something burning. He went in to

investigate and saw that his kitchen was ablaze.

"I took my grandson out of the house, but was driven back by the rapidly

spreading fire when I went back in to retrieve important documents," he said.

--MORE

FIRE BRIGADE-FIRE 2 (LAST) KUALA TERENGGANU

Mustaffa said his wife Wan Mahani Wan OMar, 57, was away selling keropok

(fish crackers) during the incident.

Kuala Terengganu Fire annd Rescue Department chief Kamerul Bieza Mohamed

Kassim said 16 firemen and three fire engines were at the scene of the fire 15

minutes after receiving a call.

He said the blaze was put under control in five minutes.

He said the actual cause of the fire had not been ascertained. Losses was

estimated at RM100,000.

--BERNAMA

NFI NSM AZ HA