Tahfiz schools have two months to register with Jais, says MB
SHAH ALAM: The state government will give a grace period of a month or two to private tahfiz schools that have yet to register with the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais).
This follows the decree by Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah that such schools not registered with Jais should be shut down.
Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari said it would be the private tahfiz schools’ last chance, failing which action would be taken to shut them down.
He said the state government’s intention was to ensure that the schools were equipped with appropriate facilities for their students, where safety was of the utmost importance.
Speaking after the opening of the state assembly by the sultan, he said Selangor was taking a cue from the fire at Pusat Tahfiz Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah in Kampung Datuk Keramat in Kuala Lumpur that killed 23 students in September 2017.
“It is not that the state government wants to bar private tahfiz schools from operating, but we want to ensure that their buildings fulfil safety requirements set by the authorities and they have a holistic curriculum.
“Two years ago, when my predecessor, Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, was the menteri besar, we directed private tahfiz schools to register with Jais and we eased the process for them.
“This was to ensure that they adhere to the need for safety equipment in case of emergencies.
“We have registered more than 200 private tahfiz schools of a total of 300.
“Those remaining will be given a couple of months to register with Jais or they will be closed.”