The Malaysian Insight

THERE is no reason to suspect that the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah tahfiz school fire was caused by foul play, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Jamil Khir Baharom today.

He said such speculation was unfounded, and asked the public to wait for the full investigation report.

“We will leave it to the forensics team to investigate the building first.

“We shouldn’t speculate on the cause for now. Let the Fire and Rescue Department, forensics team and police carry out their investigations first,” Jamil Khir told reporters in front of the burnt building.

Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department director Khirudin Drahman said the intensity of the fire suggested that it could not have been caused by a short-circuit.

The forensic findings and the Energy Commission also confirmed that the electricity circuit from the school building’s main switch was in good condition.

He said the department was investigating the possibility that the fire was caused by mischief.

Jamal Khir said the government has made arrangements to ensure that the families of victims would be able to bury their loved ones without any hassle.

“The cemeteries that have been identified are ready to receive the bodies. We will arrange for all the bodies to be buried once the decision (on DNA identification) is ready.”

The process to identify the badly burnt bodies is expected to be completed this afternoon.

Eleven bodies are to be buried in a mass burial in Kuala Lumpur while the rest are to be taken by their families back to their hometowns. – September 15, 2017.