KL to close illegal tahfiz schools
> Move to protect students and religious institutions’ image
PETALING JAYA: Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will close down all unregistered tahfiz schools in Kuala Lumpur.
Federal Territories Minister Khalid Samad (pix) said this is to protect the students as well as the image of religious institutions.
“If they are found to be unregistered, we will not hesitate to close them down,” he said yesterday.
“We do not want tahfiz centres to be given exemption just because they are part of religious institutions. They still must register with DBKL and the Federal Territory Islamic Department.”
Khalid said his ministry would impose stricter rules for residential schools, especially tahfiz centres.
He advised parents to check the status of tahfiz centres before enrolling their children.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Mujahid Yusof Rawa said on Monday he would close the centre where alleged sodomy took place if its principal is convicted of the offence.
All three teachers at the tahfiz centre have fled and left the 43 students without adult supervision, Mujahid said.
Earlier, Khalid, who is Parti Amanah Negara communications director, said the party has set up a special committee on Indian Muslim Affairs to handle the interests and welfare of the community.
He said the committee would enable the community to express its rights more widely.
“If they circulate only among themselves, their voice will have limited scope and the other communities may be unable solve their problems.
“In Amanah, which comprises members of various communities, we have set up the special committee through the cooperation of the Indian Muslim members to carry their voice far, even to Parliament,” he said to reporters after opening the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory Strata Community Mediation Centre.