KUALA LUMPUR – For any student, losing a cherished gift from their parents is a nightmare.
Now imagine that the gift, a motorcycle, going up in flames at 4.41am in the student hostel’s Block B parking lot.
Asyraaf Aiman Mohamad Nazri Anis, a student at Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMap), shares this heart-wrenching experience along with 35 others whose motorcycles were devoured by the fire, while another 10 suffered minor damages.
Asyraaf, grappling with guilt and fear, recounts the emotional turmoil of informing his parents about the tragedy.
“I contemplated calling my parents…but I ended up calling them in tears. I felt so guilty to call and inform them of what happened,” he told Scoop when contacted.
“They were concerned and told me to come home immediately.
“My heart aches as I watch the fire engulfing my motorcycle…it was the first time I witnessed such a massive blaze.”
The ordeal unfolded in the early hours of the morning. Asyraaf recalls being awake until late, sensing that something was off.
When billowing smoke invaded his room, which is situated directly above the parking lot, he sprang into action.
“I was still awake around 3am. I felt something wasn’t right, though I couldn’t quite pinpoint why. Then, at about 4am, I heard several explosions.
“Initially, I dismissed it as I thought they were firecrackers. By then, the fire alarm had already sounded.
“Yet, the idea of a fire downstairs never crossed my mind. I assumed it was a routine fire drill or someone tampering with the alarm.”
“I only realised that something had gone wrong when thick smoke started coming into my room, and I couldn’t breathe.
“With my roommate fast asleep, I decided to venture downstairs alone to investigate the source of the explosions. The second I saw the fire, my heart sank,” he described.
Despite the swift response from UniMap’s hostel management and authorities – including the establishment of a charity fund to assist affected students – the incident left a profound impact.
The 25-year-old electronic engineering student also said that the hostel principal, along with authorities, arrived promptly to manage the situation.
As investigations into the cause of the fire continue, Asyraaf said affected students are urged to vacate the premises until May 18.
Arau district police chief Superintendent Ahmad Mohsin Md Rodi confirmed that authorities were alerted to the incident at 4.43am and investigations are ongoing.
Perlis’s Fire and Rescue Department director Mohd Zaidi Ma’at reported that six firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze by 5.52am. – May 11, 2024