The Malaysian Insight

A YEAR after a fire killed 23 people at a tahfiz centre in Kg Datuk Keramat, the school has bounced back, operating in a new building with ample safety features and in high demand from parents.

Despite these developments, the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah Centre struggles under financial stress, as the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) has discontinued monthly aid, leaving the school, which does not charge student fees, to rely on income from a restaurant it owns.

A civil suit filed by the parents of some of the students who died in the blaze has also cast a shadow on the community, with people divided over the legal action, which has pitted families against one other.

Principal Mohd Zahid Mahmood said the RM7.6 million collected in donations after the fire is inaccessible, as the school’s bank account has been frozen pending the outcome of the suit.

He said the school received monthly support from MAIWP from the end of 2016 until late last year.

“First, the parents who are suing have tarnished our image. After that, they went to meet with religious authorities. And then, the authorities stopped giving us monthly support.

“We don’t even charge student fees. Why do they treat us like this? Are we so cruel? We are taking care of their children,” he told The Malaysian Insight, referring to the families of 10 victims who filed the suit.

He said the school is sustaining itself with money earned through a restaurant owned by the management, and repays its debts without interest whenever it has cash to spare.

“We still get some contributions from the public.”

The school, where children learn to recite the Quran from memory, is running at maximum capacity with 43 students.

Despite last year’s tragedy, the school has received 300 applications, the bulk of which it has rejected.

At best, said Zahid, who is also president of Gabungan Persatuan Institusi Tahfiz al-Quran Kebangsaan, an association of national tahfiz schools, it can make room for 50 students.

He is now working with another tahfiz centre in Meru, Klang, owned by local cosmetics magnate Hasmiza Othman, or better known as Dr Vida, the founder of Vida Beauty Sdn Bhd.

He said some of the applications to enrol in his school will be channelled there.

A visit by The Malaysian Insight found that the new building in Kg Datuk Keramat is equipped with 24-hour closed-circuit television cameras and fire extinguishers. Each level of the four-storey building has more than one exit, while the students’ hostel area has three.

Zahid said the new building had been inspected and certified fit for occupancy by the Fire and Rescue Department.

The blaze had taken place at the school’s temporary premises, a building provided by MAIWP.

Why sue when nobody expected fire?

Twenty-one students, aged between 13 and 17, and two wardens, died in the 5.15am fire on September 14 last year, with the cause identified as arson.

The flames trapped students sleeping in the upper floors of the building who were unable to escape due to the metal grilles affixed to the windows. There was only one exit leading out to the staircase, which was blocked by the fire.

Two boys, aged 16 when the fire happened, are on trial for murder.

Zahid rued the legal action taken by some parents, saying funds from the donations collected could have been disbursed to all those affected before Hari Raya Aidilfitri in June had the suit not been filed, leading to the school’s account being frozen.

“They are suing for money. They said if their children had not died, there would have been no need to collect donations.”

In the suit, the school is accused of failing to ensure students’ safety, resulting in their deaths. The school and MAIWP are named as the defendants.

The families suing are asking for the sum collected to be divided among them by the court.

On July 31, the Kuala Lumpur High Court asked parties to the suit to consider reaching a settlement through mediation, which has been scheduled for October 2.

Several parents who are not party to the suit are unhappy at being lumped together with those who have taken legal action.

“I don’t like to be dragged into it. Of course the parents are sad over the loss of their children. But I do not agree with the suit. People think I am out for money, when I am not involved in the suit,” said 56-year-old Yunizar Shaari.

“We want others to know that not all the parents are suing for money. We are hurt when people say all the parents are involved,” he said, adding that he felt ashamed that some friends thought he was involved in the suit.

Mashwani Mohd Shahid, 38, who lost three children in the fire, said she is disappointed with those who have taken legal action, as the blaze was unexpected.

She said it is time to move on.

“We are sad because the legal action has broken our harmony and caused us to be divided. We don’t want to prolong the matter. And, nobody expected the fire to happen.”

Another mother, Nor Faizah Aribshah, questioned if those suing had bothered about the school’s safety aspects before the fire.

“Did they not check the school’s safety features when they sent their kids there? Why not? Because it doesn’t charge fees?”

Norhayati Khalid, who lost her son, Amiel Asyraf Abdul Rashid, said despite the sadness over the incident, it is not right to tarnish the school’s image and drag other parents into the matter.

“Because of their impatience, they want to sue and blame the ustaz. And (to strengthen their case), they say we are involved,” said the 44-year-old. – September 17, 2018.