Zahid: Gov't has no powers to take-over Islamic religious schools

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today said the federal government has no powers to take over the administration of private tahfiz schools or state-owned Sekolah Agama Rakyat as they come under the jurisdiction of state religious authorities, which must be respected.

Zahid, however, said the government will step up coordination efforts to prevent a repeat of the pre-dawn fire yesterday which took the lives of 21 students and two wardens at the Darul Quran Iftifaqiyyah tahfiz school in Jalan Keramat Hujung, Kampung Datuk Keramat.

“All this while, we have the National Tahfiz Education Policy which was presented by the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) but it was not fully implemented.

“This is because Jakim only has coordination powers, while enforcement and implementation powers remain with the state religious councils and departments,” Zahid told reporters at the police training centre in Kuala Lumpur after attending a Transformasi Nasional 50 (TN50) dialogue session on security.

“So in my view, the National Council on Islamic Affairs should raise the issue of coordinating (private) tahfiz schools and Sekolah Agama Rakyat as an agenda at its next meeting,” said Zahid when asked for comments on whether the government would accede to calls for it to take over the administration of Islamic religious schools nationwide.

The calls were made following reports that the latest fire incident was not isolated, as similar incidents have happened in recent years, and questions were also raised over a reported lack of compliance with basic safety requirements.

Yesterday’s incident was said to be the second worse tragedy of its kind after a 1989 fire at Madrasah Taufiqiah Al-Khairiah, also known as Pondok Pak Ya, in Padang Lumat, Yan, Kedah, which saw the deaths of 27 students.

Referring to the 1989 fire, Zahid recalled that a Royal Commission of Inquiry had come up with a set of guidelines which were not implemented.

“…we hope recommendations of the RCI will be used as a guideline for existing tahfiz schools and Sekolah Agama Rakyat.

“It is hoped that a special enforcement committee will go through all the recommendations made by the RCI because I was made to understand that none of it was implemented,” he said.

Commenting on yesterday’s fire, Zahid meanwhile, urged all quarters to avoid speculating on the matter and to wait for the completion of its investigation report.

“I have discussed with the Fire and Rescue Department director and the KL police chief on the various speculations (on the cause of fire). We should not speculate until investigations have been completed.

“Any possibilities will be raised to the special committee and we will announce to the public if there was any criminal elements or elements beyond technical issues, including a short-circuit at the premise,” he said.

KL Fire and Rescue Department director Khirudin Drahman yesterday also said investigations are being carried out on possibilities that the fire was an act of mischief. - Mkini