A MUSLIM civil society group has embarked on a year-long programme to promote positive values among families in Kampung Datuk Keramat, the Malay enclave near the heart of Kuala Lumpur that is still reeling from the arson tragedy at a religious school that claimed 23 lives.  

Keramat Lab, which was launched today by Warisan Ummah Ikhlas Foundation, will use the teachings of the Quran to reach out to the community.

Marhaini Yusoff, the chief executive officer of Warisan Ummah Ikhlas, said the programme aimed to promote the good values taught in the Quran.

“We have programmes scheduled for 12 months, and we have invited Rumah Ngaji and a few other organisations to join us,” she said on the sidelines of the launch of Keramat Lab today.

Marhaini said there would be sessions focusing on every individual in the family and the roles they play.

The programme also includes an hour of reciting the Quran during each session.

“It is as if they come here for a picnic and receive inputs on the Quran,” said Marhaini.

She said the programme had been planned since 2016 with a nationwide focus.

However, the fire that occurred at the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah tahfiz school, which killed 21 students and two teachers in September, had made Marhaini and her team to focus on Kampung Datuk Keramat as a model to be followed nationwide.

“We are aiming for 100 families to join us for now. We hope this will get the momentum going and also a wake-up call to everyone in Keramat,” she added.

The fire at the tahfiz school was allegedly caused by seven local boys with a record of delinquency.

They were underage with one being only 11 years old. Some of them were also tested positive for drug abuse.

Among the activities included in the project are free lessons to read and understand the Quran and also transformation activities for 1,000 teenagers and parents.

It was reported earlier that one of the victim’s mother, Hartini Abd Ghani, is also involved in the project.

She said the death of her son, Nik Mohamed Ridzuan Nik Azalan, 12, made her realise that that something must be done to arrest the social problems plaguing families in Kampung Datuk Keramat, which has a notorious reputation for gangsterism, drug abuse and social delinquency. – December 2, 2017.