35 Years On: Survivor Of 1990 Miri Bank Blast Finds Strength In Scars And Faith

THIRTY-FIVE years have passed since the morning that forever changed the life of Marcell Usup Pak, one of the survivors of the Public Bank’s explosion in Miri in 1990.

The bank’s remittance and fixed deposit officer, who was 33 then, still remembers the tragedy vividly – the scars, physically and emotionally, are still there to remind him of that painful experience.

Statistically, Usup could have died, having suffered burns on about 80 per cent of his body.

It was a long battle with the trauma, with him having to wear custom-made gloves to protect his skin for years, undergoing constant physiotherapy, and suffering agonising flashbacks.

“The first three years after the explosion were really tough for the family,” said his wife Dayang Lasong, a former student of the writer at SMK Limbang in the 1970s.

“He had nightmares for years. My mother-in-law and Bidah (Usup’s sister) were with us to help out.

Dayang recalled how the Miri Hospital at the time was crowded, and relatives were strictly not allowed to see the victims.

“We’re later told that arrangements had been made to fly the victims to Singapore for further treatment.

“We prayed really hard for speedy treatment.

“It was such a difficult time. I had just been transferred from Lawas in July 1989, and was still making adjustments to life in Miri when the blast struck,” said Dayang, who married Usup in 1983.

Bank officer

Usup was born to a farmer’s family in Kampong Kekan, Dalat in 1957.

His parents, Pak Yah and Hanna Burut, were adamant that their children must go to school.

The couple had two girls and nine boys – Usup was the eighth child.

He studied in St Jude’s Primary school in Kampong Kekan from 1966 to 1971, and then went to the English-medium St Patrick’s Secondary School, where he stayed until Form 5.

Usup later advanced to Kolej Tun Datu Tuanku Haji Bujang in Miri, where he first met Dayang – a Lun Bawang from Lawas.

He received a scholarship to undertake a Diploma in Accountancy at Mara College (now Universiti Teknologi Mara) in Shah Alam, where he studied from 1980 to 1983.

After graduation, Usup had a stint at the Motorola Company in Shah Alam, before joining Public Bank in 1985. A year later, he was transferred to the Miri branch.

‘The day Miri stood still’

The Public Bank’s explosion on Feb 16, 1990, remains etched in the memory of many people in Miri.

While industrial accidents were not uncommon, nothing had prepared Miri for this.

The Public Bank branch was located at the very busy Jalan Bendahara, formerly known as River Road.

It was reported that for several weeks prior to the incident, the bank staff had been noticing the smell of gas every morning.

“Many thought it was the exhaust fumes from the security guards’ motorcycles parked inside the bank when they were on duty,” Usup recalled.

“Nobody realised that the gas was leaking from beneath the building.”

That fateful Friday morning, at 9.55am, close to opening time, a spark from the switch board ignited the trapped gas.

The blast tore through the building with such a blatant force that shards of shattered glass flew across the road and struck the shoplots opposite the bank.

“To say it was chaotic would be an understatement.

“Fire engulfed the block. People were screaming. Everything happened in seconds,” said Usup.

Three people died: a bank personnel Norlia Osman, 26, and two customers Lim Chin Fui, 63, and Jeffery Satuk, 43.

The property damage was severe. Many were injured, including Usup.

The surviving victims were airlifted to the better-equipped Singapore General Hospital the next day, on board two chartered planes.

Fighting for life

At Singapore General Hospital, many friends visited Usup every day, praying for his recovery.

“People with 80 per cent burns wouldn’t usually survive,” he said.

“But with the doctors’ skills, my wife’s strength, and everyone’s prayers, I did.

“It was a miracle from God.”

Usup spent 52 days in the hospital, two of them in intensive care.

Every day brought both pain and progress.

“I learned patience, and gratitude,” he said.

“My scars remind me that life, no matter how damaged, is still precious.”

Subsequent investigations revealed that a gas pipe had been left beneath the manager’s office after renovations, and the explosion was caused by electrical sparks.

After years of court proceedings, it was determined that it was a case of negligence on the part of both Public Bank and the Sarawak government, for failing to detect the gas installation.

The case was settled out of court.

‘Patience and fortitude’

Dayang said after coming back from Singapore, her mother-in-law and Bidah came to help out.

In September 1990, baby Nathaniel was born.

“It was really hard,” recalled Dayang.

“In the first month after Usup came home, his wounds had barely healed.

“How could I describe it? He smelled like barbequed meat!

“There were still some bits of burnt flesh, which I had to snip off daily.

“It was horrifying. By God’s grace, I was able to balance my work and nursing him daily,” said Dayang, who was still working at a different bank at the time.

She, nevertheless, admired and treasured her husband’s patience and fortitude.

“He was a good patient; never made a fuss whenever I dressed his wounds.

“He never complained about the pain.

“He had to re-learn using utensils because of the post-operation contractures in his hands.”

Usup was advised to resign from his job so that he could pursue legal actions.

“It was a difficult and indeed, a very painful transition.

“I had a very comfortable job. After that incident, I had start life from zero,” he said.

Starting over

Once he was able to become mobile again, Usup took up work as a church assistant.

He later worked for then-Ba Kelalan assemblyman, the late Dato Dr Judson Sakai Tagal, for 15 years, and after that, he was engaged with a Miri business called Sutera Company.

He was also employed by Grace Bookstore, selling stationery items and children’s books.

Eventually, Usup returned to Dalat to reconnect with his roots.

Today, he is a farmer, growing pineapples and also helping his siblings in harvesting local fruits like ‘engkala’ (jungle avocado) and ‘kuini’ (a species of mango).

He and Dayang, who retired in 2018, have joined his sister in a sago palm plantation venture, which includes collecting sago worms – a prized delicacy that can fetch good prices.

Usup is also a very good ‘belacan’ (fermented shrimp paste) maker, as attested by many.

“I’m so glad that my ‘belacan’ is selling really well in Dalat and Mukah.

“Every time the ‘bubuk’ (krill shrimps) season arrives, I would be the first to drive my lorry to the Batu Satu Fishermen’s Market in Lutong.

“Fifteen years ago, a kilogramme of ‘bubuk’ was only RM5 – sometimes less than that.

“A supply of 200kg of ‘bubuk’ can yield around 90 kg ‘belacan’.

“Today, a kilogramme of ‘bubuk’ is around RM10.

“Still, I’m always happy when it’s ‘bubuk’ season.”

Usup and Dayang also plant the highland rice in Lawas, where they go back to Dayang’s home village of Berunut in Ulu Lawas every September.

“We still buy rice from the supermarket, but planting our own is about tradition,” he said.

“It’s our way of honouring God for His blessings.

“When we are in Berunut, we get to enjoy fishing in the ponds and streams, and forage for wild vegetables too.”

These days, Usup is content with his life – all his five children are working and enjoying their independence.

“My eldest son follows our footsteps – he is in the banking industry.”

Usup is still active in church work in Miri, but he goes back to his hometown Dalat twice a month to tend to his fruit orchard there.

“My cup runneth over,” he said, quoting the well-known phrase from Psalm 23.

“I firmly believe that the family that prays together, stays together.”

His scars, once an embarrassment, are now his symbol of survival.

“Now, I see my scars as God’s handwriting – proof that He saved me for a purpose; they’re proof of grace, faith, and unbroken spirit.”

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