PUSAT Tahfiz Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah, where a fire claimed 23 lives today, was operating without a permit.

Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Noh Omar said the operators also submitted plans that were different from the school’s structure. 

“I was informed that the Fire Department received an application (for a permit) with architecture plans,” Noh Omar told reporters today. 

“But I was informed, and the Fire Department has confirmed this, that they had yet to give their approval, the CCC (certificate of completion and compliance). We have yet to give our approval but the religious school began operating.”

Noh said the original plan submitted by the school showed an “open area concept”, with two emergency staircases and no walls at the top floor. 

He added that what he saw at the site was different from the submitted plan.

“I went upstairs just now and I saw that there was a wall separating the room (on the top floor) that should not exist, according to the original plans. 

“They have yet to get the approval from the Fire Department before operating. They should have inspected the school before issuing a certificate of completion and compliance.”

Noh said firefighters arrived at the scene at 5.44am, three minutes after receiving the call. The department rescued five people, he said.

“We will take action. If they break the law, they should not be allowed to operate.

“But this thing has already happened. It is done… It is better if we prevent them from recurring,” Noh said. 

Earlier, Noh said a “skuad tahfiz” would be created to “educate tahfiz operators to prevent fires”.

“All the tahfiz operators have to come to the authorities because they can help and advise (school operators) to prevent disasters.

“I appeal to the operators of tahfiz schools to (improve fire safety standards). I do not deny that many tahfiz schools are now in existence. And in many of the schools, the pupils live at the hostels. 

“Take what happened today as a lesson, and I urge school operators to contact the Fire Department so that they know how to improve their (safety standards), to receive certification.” – September 14, 2017.