PETALING JAYA: An 81-year-old resident at a senior citizens’ care home in Padang Besar, Perlis, allegedly set the centre on fire today after he was denied permission to travel to Kangar with his girlfriend.
Padang Besar police chief Shokri Abdullah said the centre housed 20 elderly residents, and the fire is believed to have started from the kitchen cabinet area before spreading to the main hall.
“The suspect is believed to have been dissatisfied with the care centre’s staff for not allowing him to go to Kangar to get a hearing aid with his girlfriend, who is also a resident at the centre,” Harian Metro quoted Shokri as saying.
The fire damaged around 50% of the hall, with the total amount of losses still under investigation.
The case is being investigated under Section 435 of the Penal Code for causing mischief by fire, which provides for a jail term of up to 14 years and a fine upon conviction.