KUALA LUMPUR, 19 Sept 2017:
Six of the seven suspects arrested in connection with the fire at the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah residential religious school which claimed the lives of 23 students and teachers early Thursday, had earlier been expelled from the school due to disciplinary problems, including truancy.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the action was taken after the six were absent from school since 2012 until last year.
“For example, a 16-year-old suspect only attended school when he was in Form One in 2012.”
Mahdzir said the schools had taken numerous forms of action, including issuing warning letters and meeting their parents before the suspects were expelled.
However, one – the 18-year-old suspect – managed to finish school and furthered his studies in a skills training institution.
The 5.15am blaze claimed the lives of 21 students and two teachers after they were trapped in the three-story building.
Another student of Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah Religious Residential Centre who received treatment at Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) following the fire at the centre last Thursday, was discharged last night.
Adib Baqir, 15, suffered injuries on his hands and body was allowed to return home about 9.30pm.
His mother, Wahida Ramli, 49, said Adib was recovering but still in trauma over the tragic incident. “He (Adib) is stable but doctor has asked him to rest.”
Meanwhile, a HKL spokesperson said currently only three more students were still being treated at the hospital.
– Bernama