Those in charge of fire compliance must be held accountable

Human rights agency Suhakam also says education ministry should regulate all schools to ensure fire safety measures are implemented.

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) wants those responsible for ensuring fire safety measures at the private religious boarding school in Kuala Lumpur which went up in flames yesterday, killing 23 people, to be held accountable for the incident.

Its chairman Razali Ismail also said the education ministry should play the role of regulating all schools to ensure they implemented safety measures against fire and other potential risks.

He said school children, as well as teachers and support staff, deserved an environmentally and psychologically safe place in which to learn, teach and work.

“They have a right to be safe from accidents and potential dangers,” he said.

“Suhakam finds it unacceptable that the school was allowed to operate without having complied with safety and health standards and regulations; including an inspection by the fire and rescue department,” he said in a statement today.

“It is our view that fire and life safety codes are in place to prevent accidents and injuries and to ultimately save lives; and therefore, individuals and agencies responsible must be held accountable for failure to ensure compliance and safety.”

The blaze just before dawn at the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah tahfiz school in Kampung Datuk Keramat led to the deaths of 21 children and two teachers.

The fire department is investigating the possibility that it was an act of mischief, and its K-9 dog unit has sniffed out traces of chemicals around the area which have been sent for laboratory testing.

It has been reported that the victims were unable to escape either through the grilled windows of the building or through the school’s dormitory door which was blocked by two cooking gas cylinders.

Razali also said the education ministry should act as the regulatory authority on schools for them to comply with measures related to aspects like fire and life safety, building codes and certification of school premises.

“This avoidable tragedy is a horrendous reminder to the government that all schools, including religious schools must be regulated by the ministry of education to ensure adherence to procedures for setting up the schools,” he said.

He said it was not known if such schools were now required to undertake risk assessments to identify aspects like general fire precautions for the safety of occupants, including suitable means of escape. -FMT