Think tank chief rushes home from Qatar due to house fire

The Star, Wednesday June 12, 2013

By M. KUMAR
kumar@thestar.com.my

Charred remains: Wan Saiful inspecting the damage of his burnt house at Bandar Sungai Long in Kajang

 

KAJANG: Think tank head Wan Saiful Wan Jan was about to start a discussion at an international forum in Qatar when a call came in from his brother to say his home, near here, was in flames.

“It took a few moments to sink in. I did not know what to say,” said Wan Saiful, who was in the discussion group on the topic Preventing Economic Collapse and Promoting Inclusive Growth in Egypt and Tunisia at the 10th US-Islamic World Forum in Doha at around 3pm on Sunday.

Wan Saiful, the chief executive of the Institute of Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas), had hoped to have dinner with Afghan President Hamid Karzai later but aborted the plan and took the next flight home.

The fire razed most of the upper floor and roof of his double-storey house at Bandar Sungai Long.

“It started above the ceiling of the master bedroom, where the water heater was installed, and burnt most of the roof.

“Thankfully, no one was hurt,” he said, standing among the charred ruins of the upper floor yesterday.

Wan Saiful, who is a columnist with The Star, said his wife and four children were at home during the incident.

“My wife was carrying our seven-month-old son upstairs for his afternoon nap when she noticed the doorknob was warm. She saw smoke coming from under the door and quickly shouted to everyone to get out,” he said.

The Fire and Rescue Department deemed Wan Saiful's house unsafe and the family has to stay with relatives for the time being.

Despite the tragedy, Wan Saiful continues to maintain a positive outlook.

“The main thing is to get the kids back to school and then move on,” he said.