TAHFIZ school operators have yet to learn the hard lessons on safety after a fire that killed 23 pupils and a teacher in Kuala Lumpur three years ago, said Muslim groups.

They told The Malaysian Insight that the tragedy should have been a reality check to spur tahfiz schools into taking safety measures more seriously.

As of last year, 1,030 tahfiz and 200 private religious schools were registered nationwide.

Malaysian Consultative Council for Islamic Organisations (Mapim) president Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid said two fires in the past week at tahfiz schools showed that safety regulations are still being taken lightly by operators.

“Even though these schools have financial issues, the management should not compromise on safety measures.

“If it is clear, they cannot adhere to safety guidelines. The schools should stop operating until the safety issues are resolved,” Azmi told The Malaysian Insight.

He was commenting on the fires in Seri Iskandar, Perak, on July 30 and in Banting, Selangor, last Tuesday.

The Perak incident saw 115 male pupils escape from a fire that started in a storeroom after midnight.

The fire engulfed 80% of the school’s dormitory, as well as part of a lecture hall in a nearby block.

Six days after the incident, the fourth floor of a girls’ hostel at Maahad Integrasi Tahfiz Selangor (MITS) in Banting was also damaged in a fire.

The cause of both incidents is still being investigated.

Azmi said the federal and state governments should cooperate to ensure safety at all tahfiz schools.

“Many ideas have been thrown around but the question is the implementation, which is not efficient,” he said.

Azmi also urged government agencies not to play politics and help schools improve their safety measures.

“Bureaucracy will complicate matters and these issues will remain unresolved. No matter how many Islamic agencies there are in the state or country, lack of funds should not be an excuse not to help tahfiz schools.”

Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung (GPMS), meanwhile, urged local councils and firefighters to inspect safety measures at tahfiz schools from time to time.

“They need to check if the building has a certificate of ftness. This is important before allowing the school to operate,” said GPMS president Mohd Alif Md Noor.

He said it’s disappointing that fires are still breaking out at tahfiz schools despite earlier tragedies.

On September 14, 2017, a fire broke out at Pusat Tahfiz Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah in Kg Datuk Keramat, Kuala Lumpur, while on September 22, 1989, a fire occurred at Madrasah Taufikiah Khairiah Al Halimiah, better known as Pondok Pak Ya, in Gurun, Kedah.

“How much longer will it take for the parties concerned to put a stop to such incidents from recurring? The government needs to take preventive measures,” he said.

In the Datuk Keramat incident, a teenager is on trial for causing the deaths of 23 pupils and a teacher.

The Pondok Pak Ya incident resulted in the deaths of 27 female pupils. A royal commission of inquiry has been formed to investigate the case.

Meanwhile, Pembela Ummah coalition president Mohd Zai Mustafa urged the Education Ministry and the minister in charge of religious affairs to help tahfiz schools and advise them on how to improve safety conditions.

“There are many other tahfiz schools that are poor and ill equipped to face a fire. They need all the financial help they can get and it needs to be channelled soon.

“Legal advice should also be given if all else fails,” Zai added. – August 6, 2020.