Gombak: Veteran actor, Nu’man Mohd Salleh or better known as Charlie, 71, suffered a misfortune when his rented house in Gombak Setia, near here, was destroyed in a fire on the second day of Hari Raya, on Tuesday. At about 11 am, Charlie noticed the back of his house was on fire and immediately tried to put out the flame, but his efforts were not enough to save the home he had lived in for the past 13 years.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Charlie was relaxing in the living room while his children were playing on the phone when he noticed the fire. Upon going to the kitchen, he saw the fire spreading at the back of the house, believed to have started from the neighbor’s store. Charlie managed to order his children out of the house to ensure their safety before the situation worsened. Despite his attempts to extinguish the fire by spraying water and seeking public assistance, the efforts were insufficient.

Charlie shared his experience during the Ziarah Seni Madani Programme, led by the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) chairman, Datuk Hans Isaac. Currently, Charlie and his six children, aged between 5 and 13, are temporarily housed at the Gombak Setia Welfare Association Hall. Besides Charlie’s residence, two neighboring houses were also destroyed in the fire.

Meanwhile, Hans expressed sympathy over the incident and promised to find a way to help the veteran actor. He acknowledged Charlie’s contributions to the arts industry and emphasized his commitment to assisting him. Hans plans to contact the Menteri Besar of Selangor, Datuk Seri Amiruddin Shaari, who is also the Member of Parliament for Gombak, to explore possible assistance, including securing a new home for Charlie and his children.