SHE was grief-stricken for two months after losing her son in the tahfiz school fire in September.

However, she found strength and today, Hartini Abd Ghani has made it her mission to create a culture of caring and increase communal spirit in Kampung Datuk Keramat.

Hartini approached civil society group Ummah Ikhlas to help create an awareness programme called Keramat Lab to get the community to come together.

The mother of seven, who lives in Ampang, Selangor, did not know of the social ills plaguing Kampung Datuk Keramat. It was only after the fire which claimed the lives of 21 tahfiz students and two teachers, that it dawned on her that something must be done.

Her son, Nik Mohamed Ridzuan Nik Azalan, 12, was among those who died after a blaze engulfed a dormitory of the Darul Ittifaqiyah tahfiz centre on September 14.

“It was a wake up call. I had no idea of the problems in the area before this,” the 48-year-old businesswoman told The Malaysian Insight.

“I observed and I listened. I received feedback from the community and the tahfiz students. Neglected kids in the area, drug abuse. 

“We have to pay attention to every little detail. We have to start caring and everyone should play their part to cure the social ills of Kampung Datuk Keramat.”

The fire at the tahfiz school was allegedly caused by seven local boys, the youngest being 11. It threw the spotlight on the enclave itself, which has a notorious reputation for gangsterism, drug abuse and social delinquency.

The suspects who were arrested and later charged with murder were themselves underage. Some also tested positive for drug abuse.

The settlements in the Datuk Keramat suburb have a significant population of recent migrants, mostly from Indonesia.

Hartini said she could not sit by and allow her grief to consume her as there were bigger problems to deal with.

“The community, neighbours, parents, children and government agencies need to play their role. 

“It is sad that most of those killed in the incident were children. It is equally sad that those charged for the alleged crime were also underage,” she said.

She said she also wants to register children living in the area and get them involved in healthy activities.

Keramat Lab is set to be launched on December 2 at the lake behind the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah tahfiz centre before some 500 people, community leaders and residents.

Hartini has also invited the tahfiz centre to take part in the event.

“Yes, we have to move on from this tragedy, but I want people to learn from what had happened.

“I want a solution to the problems in Keramat and hopefully for people to start realising that this is not your problem or my problem. It is our problem,” she said. – November 29, 2017.