Foto: Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: A special meeting will be held on Tuesday to
discuss issues related to the safety of all maahad tahfiz schools in the
country following the tragic fire at the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah Religious
Residential Centre in Jalan Keramat Ujung which claimed the lives of 21
students and two teachers-cum wardens, Thursday.
discuss issues related to the safety of all maahad tahfiz schools in the
country following the tragic fire at the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah Religious
Residential Centre in Jalan Keramat Ujung which claimed the lives of 21
students and two teachers-cum wardens, Thursday.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the meeting
would be chaired by deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
would be chaired by deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
“I was informed that there are maahad tahfiz (religious
residential schools) that followed the fire and rescue department’s
specification, there are also some registered with the Islamic Religious
Council but do not follow the specifications set by the fire and rescue
department.
residential schools) that followed the fire and rescue department’s
specification, there are also some registered with the Islamic Religious
Council but do not follow the specifications set by the fire and rescue
department.
“Whatever, the situation, we need to do a ‘stock taking’ on
every tahfiz,” he told reporters after visiting the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah
Religious Residential Centre at Jalan Keramat Ujung, here today.
every tahfiz,” he told reporters after visiting the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah
Religious Residential Centre at Jalan Keramat Ujung, here today.
Earlier, the Prime Minister who arrived with his wife Datin
Seri Rosmah Mansor had accompanied Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V to
the centre where 21 students and two teachers-cum warden had perished in a fire
that started at 5.15am on Thursday.
Seri Rosmah Mansor had accompanied Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V to
the centre where 21 students and two teachers-cum warden had perished in a fire
that started at 5.15am on Thursday.
Najib described the tragedy as a sad incident that could
have been avoided if there were no changes to the original plan that was
approved by the fire and rescue department.
have been avoided if there were no changes to the original plan that was
approved by the fire and rescue department.
“When an additional wall was built, it resulted in only one fire
exit but we will wait for an in-depth report from all the relevant authorities,
including the police and fire and rescue department before coming to a
conclusion,” said Najib who had only returned to the country after his visit to
the United States and United Kingdom last night.
exit but we will wait for an in-depth report from all the relevant authorities,
including the police and fire and rescue department before coming to a
conclusion,” said Najib who had only returned to the country after his visit to
the United States and United Kingdom last night.
Najib said the ‘uztaz’ (religious teacher) from the Darul
Quran Ittifaqiyah Religious Residential Centre and the students would perform
religious rituals at his residence in Jalan Duta every Friday.
Quran Ittifaqiyah Religious Residential Centre and the students would perform
religious rituals at his residence in Jalan Duta every Friday.
The Prime Minister said the government would offer
assistance to the victims based on three categories – loss of lives, injury and
trauma.
assistance to the victims based on three categories – loss of lives, injury and
trauma.
“I wish to announce that the government will offer aid and I
will make a personal contribution,” he said.
will make a personal contribution,” he said.
Najib also rubbished claims that the government did not
assist maahad tahfiz throughout the country.
assist maahad tahfiz throughout the country.
He said this year alone RM30 million had been allocated to
assist maahad tahfiz throughout the country. – Bernama
assist maahad tahfiz throughout the country. – Bernama