Veteran Lawyer Among Two Killed In Penang Legal Office Fire

GEORGE TOWN, April 13 (Bernama) -- Former prominent lawyer, Datuk San Markan Ganapathi, was among two killed in a shophouse fire at a legal office in Lebuh King here today.

Penang Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) director Mohamad Shoki Hamzah said the victim, 88, was found dead by firefighters at 1.05 pm, seated on a chair beside a window in the office on the second floor of the building.

He said the second victim, identified as clerk B.J. Chandra, 66, was found at 3.26 pm near a wall beneath a pile of files.

“The fire involved an office building housing two legal firms, but only the second floor was operating today, while the ground floor was closed as they were understood to have a case in Perak.

“Based on initial information, three workers were on the upper floor during the incident. One survived, while the other two are believed to have died from inhaling thick smoke after being trapped in the premises, but this will be confirmed by forensic examination,” he told reporters at the scene.

Mohamad Shoki said the department received an emergency call at 12.14 pm and deployed 17 personnel from the Jalan Perak and Lebuh Pantai fire stations, with assistance from volunteer fire brigades from Bukit Bendera and Seri Tanjung.

He said the team faced difficulty reaching the location due to heavy traffic during peak hours.

“So far, the cause of the fire has yet to be identified and remains under investigation. However, the building is old and structurally fragile. When firefighters arrived, about 70 per cent of the premises had already been engulfed in flames,” he said.

He added that the bodies were handed over to the police and taken to Penang Hospital. 

Meanwhile, Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister and Tanjong MP Lim Hui Ying, as well as Jelutong MP, R. S. N. Rayer, who were present at the scene, were seen consoling the victims’ family members.

Rayer said he understood that San Markan had gone to the legal firm to meet a lawyer regarding a personal matter as a client.

He said San Markan’s passing was deeply felt, adding that he was not only a respected lawyer but also a long-time acquaintance of his family.

“He was a very senior lawyer, someone we always looked up to… we often called him for reference. In fact, he was also my father’s classmate,” he said, adding that the deceased had not been actively practising law for about five years and had been serving as a notary public.

Meanwhile, Lim said San Markan was a close acquaintance of her father, Lim Kit Siang, and that they had met earlier this year during the lawyer’s 88th birthday celebration.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow also expressed his condolences to the families of the two victims and hoped they would be given strength in facing the tragedy.

“As the Padang Kota assemblyman, I take this incident seriously and will fully cooperate with all relevant agencies, particularly JBPM, to ensure a thorough investigation is conducted to determine the cause of the incident.

“All necessary measures will be considered, including improving fire safety in old buildings and high-risk areas, while the public and building owners must ensure safety systems are functional, with clear emergency exits and regular drills,” he said.

-- BERNAMA