The Malaysian Insight

A TEAM of officers from the federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman visited the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah Centre today as part of an extended investigation into the fire on Thursday that claimed 23 lives.

Initial investigations are being carried out by the Fire and Rescue Department. Its Kuala Lumpur chief, Khirudin Drahman, had said the intensity of the fire and the speed of which it spread indicated that it could have been caused by mischief.

This afternoon, the Bukit Aman team arrived at the school in Kampung Datuk Keramat, Kuala Lumpur, and inspected the building and its surroundings, including behind the centre.

Some officers were seen taking photographs of the building and also a pond at the back.

Kuala Lumpur police are expected to hold a press conference on the investigations tomorrow.

Meanwhile, passers-by continued to hog the road as motorists stopped to snap photographs of he building.

“I came here just to check out the school. Just wanted to have a closer look of what’s left,” said one visitor.

Some of the school representatives were seen at the front of the building, talking to members of the public who stopped to look at the scene of the tragedy.

“They were curious. Asked lots of questions. So much of misinformation is being spread about this incident,” said a school representative who did not give his name.

“Many also offered to make cash contributions although it is never the centre’s intention to ask for donations.”

The predawn Thursday fire engulfed the second floor of the building, where the three-storey centre’s dormitory was located.

Witnesses told investigators trapped students could be heard screaming for help as they could not open the windows and grilles to escape the scorching flames.

Twenty-one of the victims were students aged between 11 and 17, while two teachers also died.

Inspector-General of Police Mohd Fuzi Harun said all parties directly or indirectly connected to the fire would be interviewed.

“Not only the owner, but the teachers, students who escaped the fire, including the 38 people in hospital, we will investigate them all,” he said before confirming that a man had been brought in for questioning in connection with the case. – September 16, 2017.