Datuk dies in house fire at Taman Tun Dr Ismail

A man with a “Datuk” title was found dead in a fire believed to be caused by a burning cigarette at his house in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, near Kuala Lumpur, early this morning.

The victim, identified as Datuk Dr Muhamad Ali Mahfuz Ali, 88, was found by the crime prevention patrol member at the living room of his house, at 1.30 am.

Brickfields police chief ACP Muhammad Azlee Abdullah, when contacted, said the victim's 77-year-old wife who was also in the house, survived the incident.

"Members of the Crime Prevention Patrol (RCJ) who received initial information on the fire had rushed to the scene. Upon arriving at the scene, the RCJ members had cut the padlock on the front grill.

"Upon opening the door, it was found that there was a fire on the right side of the lounge where the body of the victim was found burnt. The victim's wife who was found beside the main gate had been taken out," he said.

Azlee said investigations showed there was no sign of foul play as all doors and windows in the house were in good condition and had not been tampered with.

"The victim's son, when contacted, said that his father was a smoker and was suffering from dementia. The Fire Forensics Team and the Police Forensics Team who investigated the incident said that the fire could have been caused by a lighted cigarette," he said.

Ali’s remains have been taken to the University Malaya Medical Centre where a post-mortem will be conducted today, while his widow was admitted to the Emergency Unit of the same hospital for further treatment. – Bernama