KUCHING: The director of Kenbest Sdn Bhd, the developer of CityOne Megamall, Stephen Long Tine Chung, has expressed his sadness and grief over the blast that killed three people and injured 41 others last Tuesday .
“We are very sad over this incident in which we lost three lives. Indeed, we grieve with the families who lost their loved ones.
“This is something that we hate to see. It is indeed very disheartening to see lives are lost here. When I visited our colleagues and staff with burns in the hospital, it makes me cry. It is so depressing to see them,” Long told the media at CityOne Megamall yesterday.
“These are lives. I have children – my son, daughter and they are so close to me and now, I can do this to take care of their welfare and I am visiting them to give my assistance in terms of emotional support and financially to assist those who are in hospital and the families of the three deceased,” he said, adding that he would also go to Sekama Police Station to assist the police in their investigations.
Long said at CityOne Megamall, the management was committed to safety .
“Safety at CityOne is always our priority. It is our value. We were doing the final touch up and supposed to be opened today so that we could enjoy the Nene Chicken.
“Our workers, friends and staff were just doing the touchup, getting the food, soft drinks, plates and chairs ready. They had been training so hard and were ready to serve and yet one explosion changed the whole scenario,” Long said.
He added his wife Sim Ewe Kee, his son Johnathan, his son-in-law Johnny Lau and himself were looking after the megamall fulltime.
During the explosion, his wife and his son were inside the outlet while his son-in-law was inside the kitchen and now his son-in-law was in the hospital with burns over 20% of his body.
Long said his wife was hit by a steel structure which fell on her but she is now out of hospital. And his son Johnathan was also among the debris after the ceiling collapsed on him.
Meanwhile, in a statement yesterday, CityOne Megamall announced it had closed its doors to the public due to an explosion in the Nene Chicken food outlet that was scheduled to open yesterday.
The mall’s management is working with the relevant authorities on rescue operations and a full-fledged investigation of the blast
Sarawak Health Department Office at 8.15pm on Tuesday reported 41 injuries and three deaths in the blast. Those who lost their lives were identified as Chin Hsien Loong, 29, from Penang as well as Sarawakians Tchee Kiam Jong, 24 and O Kui Lim, 49. The victims were sent to Sarawak General Hospital (SGH), Borneo Medical Centre (BMC) and Timberland Medical Centre (TMC).
Long hoped the mall would be opened as soon as possible after the authorities gave their clearance.
“Now we leave it to the authorities to decide,” he said. It is unfortunate but the lives now in the hospital and the families of the deceased are more important to me now,” he said, adding that the Christmas mood was totally lost.
The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM has indicated that other areas of the mall are safe to be in. CityOne Megamall has engaged a certified Structural Engineering Consultant to conduct a thorough walkthrough to confirm that the affected area is indeed safe before the mall is officially opened to the public.
