{
  "id": 5712260,
  "title": "Chew Jetty fire: Business owners lose everything in the blink of an eye",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/chew-jetty-fire-business-owners-lose-everything-in-the-blink-of-an-eye",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-05T03:44:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Vibes",
    "slug": "the-vibes",
    "url": "https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/126973/chew-jetty-fire-business-owners-lose-everything-in-the-blink-of-an-eye"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A devastating fire ravaged premises along Chew Jetty in Penang, leaving business owners with losses that could easily have been \"gone in the blink of an eye.\" Car paint shop operator Hong Jing Lian, 60, whose family-run establishment had been operating at the location since 1997, said all goods were destroyed. The fire broke out after 1 am and appears to have originated from another premises before spreading rapidly. Hong estimated the loss at around RM1 million, including three vehicles that were being painted. Toh Aik Aun, a 50-year-old T-shirt printing entrepreneur, also suffered significant damage as his business, in operation for nearly three decades, was gutted. He too received a call informing him of the calamity at 1.08 am. He noted that hundreds of T-shirts, as yet undelivered to customers, were lost. The cause of the fire, and the total extent of the damage, remain under investigation. Chew Jetty, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is the largest and oldest Chinese clan jetty in Penang, built in the 19th century by Chinese immigrants from Fujian. Despite its significant loss, it is believed that the fire will not impact the area’s tourist appeal.",
  "summary": "BUSINESS owners at Chew Jetty in Penang were forced to bear the brunt of the fire that destroyed their premises and goods early this morning. Car paint shop operator Hong Jing Lian, 60, who has been in business at the location since 1997, said all th...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Vibes",
        "title": "Firefighters contain blaze near George Town’s Chew Jetty saving nearby petrol station",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/firefighters-contain-blaze-near-george-towns-chew-jetty-saving-nearby",
        "published": "2026-09-05T00:06:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Chew Jetty fire leaves business owners counting losses",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/chew-jetty-fire-leaves-business-owners-counting-losses",
        "published": "2026-09-05T01:35:50.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Early-morning fire destroys five business premises at Penang’s Chew Jetty heritage area",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/early-morning-fire-destroys-five-business-premises-at-penangs-chew",
        "published": "2026-09-05T02:25:55.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}