Pahang religious council orders tahfiz centre closed after death of student

Pahang Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council deputy president Wan Abdul Wahid Wan Hassan says the safety at such tahfiz centres is of prime importance. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: The Pahang Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MUIP) has ordered a tahfiz school closed following the death of a seven-year-old who was assaulted by fellow students.

“I have already signed the directive for it to be closed immediately,” MUIP deputy president Wan Abdul Wahid Wan Hassan told FMT.

He also said the centre, which had been operating since January, had not applied for approval from the council.

“It is not like the operator was ignorant of the law. You need to get permission to run such a centre.”

Earlier today, it was reported that Muhammad Aimin Nurul Amin was rushed to a clinic in Lanchang, Temerloh, after he was found with bruises on his shoulder, hip and face.

He died on arrival at about 3pm yesterday.

Pahang Criminal Investigation Department chief Othman Nanyan said three 13-year-old students have been arrested as suspects.

The boy’s death is the latest in a series of incidents which called into question the management of tahfiz schools, two years after a fire at the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah tahfiz school in Kuala Lumpur killed 21 children and two teachers.

Wan Wahid said MUIP found that the school was managed by a local who depended on funds from the public.

“We could not ascertain the qualification of one of the centre’s teachers.”

He said the tahfiz centre had 14 students, aged between seven and 13. Four of them, including the victim, stayed there.

Wan Wahid said the safety at such centres was its main priority before they were given the green light to operate. - FMT