KUCHING: Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has expressed his condolences following the passing of the former permanent secretary in several ministries in this state Affandi @ Pandi Keli.
Affandi, 68, died along with two of his family members Aneeqa Affand ,35 and another victim is Aneeqa’s niece, Nor Hasyidah Ajis, 22, in a fire incident in Kampung Gita last Sunday (Nov 13).
“It is saddening news and a tragic incident involving three family members caught in a fire. I extend my condolences to his family.
“I was very shocked as I was at Asajaya last (Sunday) night when the tragedy happened,” he said to reporters in a press conference after the launching of the National Archives of Malaysia Sarawak branch building here yesterday.
According to Abdul Karim, the late Affandi who was once the permanent secretary to the housing ministry was also the general manager of BDC.
“At that time, I was the chairman of the BDC for a few years, and he was the general manager of BDC. We (worked) together for a long time after that he moved to become permanent secretary and I was appointed as the deputy minister in the same ministry which is the housing ministry.
Meanwhile, according to Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) director Datuk Khirudin Drahman when met by reporters at the scene, said the victims are believed to have suffocated due to the smoke.
“The male victim sustained burns on his hands while the other two did not sustain any burn,” he said.
All the bodies were handed over to the police to be taken to the hospital for post-mortem. The authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire as well as losses incurred.
