YOURSAY | ‘Who is accountable for this tragedy that has left so many families grieving?’

Twenty-three dead in early morning fire at tahfiz school

Anonymous #19098644: Twenty-three people perished in an early morning fire that broke out at a religious school (tahfiz) on Jalan Datuk Keramat in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday. According to the City Fire and Rescue Services Department, the dead consisted of 21 students and two wardens.

This is appalling. So many young people dead. How could the school operate in a premise that had not been approved by the Fire Department?

These unregulated and unregistered religious schools should not be allowed to operate and should instead be regulated by the Education Ministry to ensure proper safety standards as well as ensuring that the curriculum is in line with national aspirations.

Who is responsible for this tragedy? Who is accountable for this tragedy that has left so many families grieving? Will action be taken or will some politician sweep it under the table by claiming that this is the will of Allah?

FellowMalaysian: This is truly tragic. When I first read the headline of this news article, I thought it happened elsewhere in another country. Imagine 23 lives lost over a blaze in a school situated in the city centre where the Fire Department is just a short walk away.

At 5.10am when the fire was reported to have just started, wasn't it almost time for subuh prayers? Were the wardens taken unawares? How could this unimaginable loss of lives happen in modern Malaysia?

When will the authorities and government realise their negligence and shortcomings and start admitting wrongdoings? Only then can we learn.

Lamborghini: Another tragedy that cost so many young innocent lives. It is unbelievable that in spite of 211 fire incidents reported at tahfiz schools nationwide since 2015, the Fire Department and local councils can still give the lame excuse of not having enough resources to check on every school. It should have been made a top priority!

How many must more innocent lives be lost before concrete action is taken?

Mano: The Fire Department lacked the resources to check "on every school, and local governments, whose jurisdictions the school fall under, faced the same predicament, he had said, as these units can pop out of nowhere and be located in the middle of a busy housing area, without the necessary safety precautions."

Very lame excuse. If the already over bloated government departments cannot do their jobs, the department heads have to be charged with the murder of these children.

Pretzel Dog: Over 200 incidents of fire between 2015 and now involving tahfiz schools. That's a high number by any reckoning.

Those involved in the setting-up of these schools should be held responsible. This is tragic and our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the victims.

No excuses can justify the happening of this fire and it must never happen again.

NA: Tragic and sad indeed. All relevant authorities must take a hard look at themselves and be ashamed. Laws and regulations are powerless if there is lack of enforcement, apathy and when rules can be flouted easily.

Yes, this is Allah's will, but no excuses. Safety is paramount at all times.

Anonymous_1392781899: All religious schools must at least have fire extinguishers for emergency use. The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) with so much money should supply them to these schools free of charge.

Also, smoke detectors are cheap and should be installed for early warning. These are simple basic fire prevention and fire-fighting equipment.

Hopeful123: There has to be a real concerted effort by the authorities to conduct safety checks and enforcement. Otherwise, these incidents, like the many bus and coach accidents, will be a common thing.

Every time such accidents happen, there is this "assurance" from the government that it will not happen again.

May all the deceased rest in peace. Condolences to the families. May God give them the strength to overcome this tragedy.

School had no permit, fire safety cert to operate at premises

Kangkung: The religious school on Jalan Datuk Keramat, which was razed in a fire that killed 23 people early Thursday morning, did not have the permission to operate the tahfiz at the premises it had been occupying.

I doubt the lives of 23 people will change anything about fire safety in this country. It has happened before but such incidents do not stop them from repeating in the future. When the clicking of “sad emoji buttons” stop on social media, this incident will be long forgotten.

I can bet no one will ever be brought to justice as the fire at Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah school will be seen as “fated” and the case will be closed. And we wait for a bigger one to happen.

Shunyata: The Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) cannot wash its hands off this tragedy, as it is a co-contributor to the running of the school.

Whose duty is it to ensure that tahfiz schools comply with safety regulations - local councils, the Education Ministry or Islamic religious councils?

"Urgent checks on tahfiz schools beginning today" as ordered by Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor just highlights the complacency that has been taking place and the lack of accountability by the councils involved.

Vgeorgemy: Why didn’t we notice these unauthorised heavily fortified buildings operating as boarding schools in the middle of the city? Are we insensitive to the safety just because it is operating in the name of religion?

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