PM: Tahfiz school tragedy could have been avoided

KUALA LUMPUR: The Keramat tahfiz school tragedy could have been avoided had the management school not altered the building’s floor plan approved by the Fire and Rescue Department.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib said the building was only equipped with one fire exit after an additional wall was built.

“However, we should not jump to conclusions and wait for the full report by the police, fire department and other agencies.”

Najib said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also home minister, would be chairing a meeting on Tuesday to review the status of tahfiz schools nationwide.

This, said the prime minister, was because some schools followed the fire department’s requirements, while others had the approval of the Islamic Religious Affairs Council, but did not meet the standards required by the fire department.

Najib said this after being briefed on the incident at the scene yesterday night.

He was accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.

The prime minister also said that a RM30 million allocation had been approved to upgrade the physical structure of private tahfiz schools.

“I am saddened by this tragedy and I offer my condolences to those affected,” he said, adding that the government, Umno and himself would donate to the victims and their families.

The prime minister and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun later accompanied the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V for a briefing by the authorities.