TASEK GELUGOR, MALAYSIA - Grandmother Azizah Osman watched helplessly as a few relatives plunged 1.8m down from her stilt house in Permatang Sungai Dua when part of her kitchen caved in on the first day of Hari Raya. Her nephew Abdul Rahman Mahmud, 47, his wife Saripah Taharin, 45, and two of their four children Mohd Firdaus, 19, and Nurul Aisyah, eight, sustained injuries in the 1.15pm incident.

While Abdul Rahman, Saripah and Nurul Aisyah escaped with bruises and cuts on their bodies and legs, Mohd Firdaus dislocated his right shoulder and was partially scalded when a jug of hot water fell on his head.

Azizah, 61, said she had just invited Abdul Rahman and family into the kitchen when part of the floorboard suddenly gave way.

"I was on the other end of the kitchen near the stove when the portion where they sat collapsed.

"The laksa, ketupat and rendang, which I had specially prepared, splattered on the ground together with my groceries and kitchenware," she said, in reference to Malay delicacies.

Fortunately, another eight relatives, including her 44-year old daughter, who were having lunch in the dining room nearby, were spared, she sighed in relief.

Saripah, who was shaken by the incident, said she thought it was a tremor, as she heard rumbling sounds for several seconds before the floor caved in.

Abdul Rahman said his aunt's house was about 80 years old, conjecturing that the floorboard could have started decaying through the years.

"Only five people, including my aunt stay in this house. So, I believe the large gathering of relatives this time around may have added the pressure on the floorboard," he said.

Tasek Gelugor MP Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop's special assistant Mohd Fahmi Abdul Latif, who visited the family, said his boss sympathised with the family over the incident.

"Tan Sri asked me to render the necessary assistance to the family. We hope to initiate a gotong-royong (communal volunteerism) after Hari Raya to rebuild the floorboard," he said.

Mohd Fahmi said he would also seek financial aid from Pusat Urus Zakat and the national Welfare Department to help the family cope with their loss.