KUCHING: CityOne Megamall owner Stephen Long was all tears when he arrived at the house of Tchee Fah Hin, the father of Tchee Kiom Joong, 24, who was killed in the gas explosion in CityOne Megamall, yesterday.
“I am very sorry uncle, it should have been me in the incident,” he said as he hugged Tchee.
Tchee was overheard telling Long to calm down, saying: “Everything is alright, and there is nothing to be sad about anymore.”
Turning to some pressmen, Long said: “Dear media, I come here not for publicity, but I feel very devastated for the families who have lost their lives.”
Long said he will visit Tchee frequently to lend his support and see what he could do about his house.
“I will also visit the other affected victims at the hospital and families to show my support,” he added.
Meanwhile, Tchee thanked members of the public for their support, and now hopes he can have a better place to stay.
After the incident, many have shown their support by giving Tchee financial assistance, including offering to renovate his wooden house.
“This land that I am staying on belongs to my brother, and I have stayed here for 25 years,” he told reporters at his house, at Jalan Stutong, here yesterday.
He said before the tragedy that killed his son, he had approached an elected representative, requesting for a low-cost house.
“I did not ask for more, but now that my son is dead, I just want to say thank you to all who have helped and donated towards his funeral service,” he said.
