The Malaysian Insight

DESPITE surviving a deadly blaze which killed 23, 11-year-old Mohamad Shahir Sharifuddin insists to continue his studies at the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah Tahfiz Centre after his release from hospital, his father said.

“I had a discussion with him at the hospital. He told me he wanted to go to the same tahfiz. He said he enjoyed being there and as a parent I will oblige. After all, he showed a lot of improvement while studying at the school,” said Sharifuddin Musa.

He escaped death by jumping off from the second floor but suffered 20% burns on his body and broke his ribs and hip bone.

Shahir also suffered from internal bleeding but doctors managed to stop the bleeding in a surgery conducted few days after the fire.

Sharifuddin said his son also underwent another surgery to treat his burns.

“He is still recuperating and once the skin part is done, only then the doctor will proceed with treatment for the fractured bones,” he said.

Shahir is weak but able to speak. He is still being tube fed.

“He is still not able to receive any visitors. But recuperating well at the intensive care unit,” said Sharifuddin.

He said Shahir had shown a lot of improvement after enrolling into the tahfiz school.

“He memorized the Yassin within three months. He has become more patient and had never missed his five daily prayers since he started studying there,” he said.

Sharifuddin was at the Jalan Duta court today, where two of the seven suspects arrested in connection with the September 14 were charged with murder.

“I wanted to see their faces. I want to know the court works but I was told to leave the courtroom as only the accused family members were allowed to be in the room,” said Sharifuddin.

He hoped that the culprits will be punished for the crime they did.

“My focus is on my son. I will follow the progress of the case as and when time permits,” he said.

Two underaged teenagers were charged with 23 counts of murder at the Jalan Duta Court today.

They were accused of committing the offence at the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah Tahfiz Centre on Jalan Datuk Keramat, Kuala Lumpur, between 4.15am and 6.45am on September 14.

No plea was recorded and the Magistrate had set November 28 for case mention.

Investigators had classified the fire as arson after parts of the burnt building was found doused with petrol.

The seven suspects, all of whom are underage except for an 18-year-old, are also facing drug charges.

Another suspect has been released on bail as there is not enough evidence for to charge him in court. – September 28, 2017.