PETROL was doused on the door, towel rack, shoe rack and wall of the tahfiz school fire that killed 23 in Kuala Lumpur last week, the fire and rescue department said today. 

Police had earlier detained seven youths who were believed to have started the fire over a quarrel with the schoolboys.

Director-general of the department Wan Mohd Nor Ibrahim said investigators found clues and evidence pointing to arson.

“The fire started at the main entrance to the dormitory at the third level. This was based on statement from witnesses and victims.

“It was also supported by evidence, such as spalling on the wall, mass loss on the door, ceiling, cupboard and the shoe rack.

“There was also clean burn marks on the surrounding wall near the entrance that support our findings and conclusion,” he said at a press conference in Putrajaya today.

Last Thursday, 21 tahfiz pupils and two teachers were killed after fire engulfed their dormitory at the centre in Kg Datuk Keramat, Kuala Lumpur.

The department has always maintained that arson was the cause and today’s report confirmed it.

Wan Nor said investigators also found traces of petrol on the wall, towel and shoe rack and cupboard near the entrance.

“Our K9 unit detected samples of flammable liquid – petrol – at the scene. And it was taken for tests on the same day at our lab in Kuala Lumpur.”

He said the two gas cylinders found at the entrance also helped spread the fire.

“It spread quickly because of that (gas cylinders), killing the people within a short time,” he said.

The initial investigation report was handed over to police for further action at 1pm on September 14, the day of the attack.

“Police started their investigation based on that,” said Wan Nor.

The full report was handed over to police yesterday.

Forty-three firemen and 17 officers were deployed to the scene to control the fire after receiving call at 5.41am. The blaze was controlled at 6.29am.

Since 2015, there have been 211 cases of fire in tahfiz schools nationwide, according to department statistics.

Prime Minister Najib Razak said the tragedy at the Kg Datuk Keramat tahfiz school could have been prevented, adding that he would help the school and fire victims.

“In terms of help, I was informed that the government will give help, Umno will give help, and I personally will also give help, because these children and ustaz had held religious activities at my (unofficial) residence in Jalan Duta every Friday night. This is a tragedy that is close to my heart.

“Our plans are for the tahfiz (school) here to be moved to a new building, and they already have a plan to move within a few days,” he said after visiting the tahfiz school last week.

He also announced a RM30 million allocation to upgrade tahfiz schools nationwide. – September 21, 2017.