KUCHING, Nov 21 — Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein was today shocked to see his special officer Datuk Firdaus Ismail fall into a marsh when a wooden bridge leading to the dilapidated home of an elderly villager in Kampung Gersik, here, collapsed.

In the 4pm incident, Hishammuddin who had officiated at the closing of the ministry's Meet-Customers Day at Tebingan Boyan-Gersik-Sourabay (BGS) then toured the Malay village.

While the visiting party was walking on the bridge with Ismail just behind the minister, the bridge collapsed with Ismail falling into the marsh but he was pulled out by Rela members.

A sum of RM40,000 has been allocated to repair four dilapidated houses in the village and also the collapsed bridge. — Bernama