Kuantan: Irreplaceable objects of cultural heritage, notably a set of century-old chairs and a rare Chinese typewriter with Mandarin characters, went up in smoke when several shops in a two-storey row of Colonial-era building on Jalan Mahkota caught fire last night. Chairman of the Kuantan Kwong Siew Association, located on the upper floor, Cheong Lai Chee, 65, said the four chairs and the typewriter were priceless as they had been brought to Malaya by former members of the association.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, other items destroyed in the blaze were books, documents, old association magazines, and photographs. No one was in the building at the time because the association only operates during working hours. Cheong Lai Chee mentioned that the extent of losses has yet to be determined, pending a review of the association’s assets by its accountant. The incident also affected preparations for their annual Lantern Festival, scheduled for next month. The association, which has more than 1,300 members, usually holds a dinner inviting all its esteemed members, but the gala now seems likely to be canceled.

Another victim, second-hand shoe shop operator Ahmad Syukri Mazlan, 33, estimated his losses at RM200,000. Recounting the episode, he said the fire broke out at about 8.30 pm, after he had finished performing Isyak prayers at the back of his shop. He heard a sound like a collapse from the back store and initially thought people were working, but soon after, a neighbor shouted there was a fire. He rushed to save whatever items he could, managing to salvage about a quarter of the shoes, while the rest were either burned or damaged by water.

Ahmad Syukri relocated some of the salvaged shoes to Taman Kerang with the help of the public and nearby shopkeepers, who also lent their stores to keep the goods. The fire department has not yet conducted a loss assessment at his shop. The fire is believed to have originated from a carpet shop next door. Ahmad Syukri hopes to resume business at the same location if it is certified safe or else he will seek another outlet around Kuantan. Meanwhile, he is trying to save whatever items can still be used to continue his business, otherwise, he will have to dispose of them.

Previously, the media reported that it took over 40 firefighters to douse the inferno till midnight.