Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi should not just chair the task force on the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah tahfiz schools fire which resulted in the death of 24 people yesterday, his task force should be expanded in scope and terms of reference to ensure that there will be no more tahfiz school fires in the country.
Former Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad has expressed his upset that no lessons had been learnt from a tahfiz school fire in Kedah in 1989, which killed 27 people.
He recalled that in the fire at a tahfiz school dormitory in 1989, 27 female students died. The fire also totally gutted the school and eight wooden hostels.
Zahid’s task force on tahfiz fire should also probe into why no lesson had been learnt from the fire in Kedah in 1989, which claimed 27 lives, as well as other tahfiz fires.
Since 2015, 211 fires have been reported to be broken out at the private religious schools. Shouldn’t there be more outrage at such rampant fire risks and disregard of safety issues?
Tan Sri Noh Omar, the Minister for Urban Well-being, Housing and Local Government, has sadly and shockingly shown that he is not serious or suitable for the Ministerial responsibility to ensure that the Fire and Rescue Department identify all schools and premises at risk of fire and to take the necessary safety measures.
Noh Omar should be sacked as Minister for Urban Well-being, Housing and Local Government for he has no understanding of “urban well-being” whatsoever, or at minimum, he should be switched to another Ministry where his Ministerial negligence or irresponsibility would not cause the loss of so many human lives or so much human suffering.
With the tragedies of so many tahfiz fires in the country, the government cannot but be firm to ensure that there will be no repetition of such tragedies in the future and not to allow any misconceived ideas to justify such criminal negligence or misconduct.
#1 by Bigjoe on Friday, 15 September 2017 - 5:27 pm
Shame on so many so called “leaders” to fall it upon Siri Hasmah to state the most important point on this tragedy. It is the elephant in the room and she said what most needed to be said.
The reason for the problem is the same why Najib is getting away with 1MDB underwritten by Hadi’s PAS.
#2 by SuperStringhg on Friday, 15 September 2017 - 9:34 pm
People asked often why similar mistakes whether it is criminal, financial, accidents, etc kept occurring? My simple answer: CORRUPTIONS, yes, CORRUPTIONS to the core of the country’s system so any mistakes made can be bought off; any financial malfeasances are swept under the carpet; any crimes big or small can be covered up; any misconducts are brushed aside; any immoralities are overlooked; any mismanagements are forgiven; any dereliction of duties are slapped on the wrist; Yes everything is Boleh as long as you have money and power!
#3 by good coolie on Friday, 15 September 2017 - 11:54 pm
DPM made a valid point in his TV briefing – that parents should only send children to schools adhering to safety regulations. Incidentally, he was to the point and very statesman-like in his brief address. We should sit up and take note to avoid similar unfortunate incidents.
#4 by good coolie on Monday, 18 September 2017 - 12:59 pm
This fire is different. It is arson that resulted in the loss of many lives. Yet, the school authorities are guilty of criminal negligence in not adopting basic and well-known safety precautions like a fire-escape exit and proper management of the keys to dormitories.
Let us learn, please! Our youngsters will be grateful to us for the care.
And why are students still going around in brash and bullying ways? Is the drug problem under control or is it lying under the carpet where it had been swept, hidden away from the prying eyes of the citizens of the country?