DBKL monitoring tahfiz schools, FT minister assures

KUALA LUMPUR: Federal Territories Minister Khalid Samad today assured that both his ministry and the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) is monitoring tahfiz schools to ensure that basic safety requirements are met.

He said the ministry and DBKL was also coordinating with several Islamic NGOs to ascertain more about the state of these schools and provide assistance where needed.

“We want to ensure that the basic amenities and safety requirements are met. If they are not, at least we will be aware and can be better prepared,” he said in a press conference on the sidelines of a seminar at the DBKL training institute today.He added that they also made a list of all the schools so far based on available information as well as information from the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi).

Last month, Khalid was embroiled in controversy after reports quoting him as saying DBKL was prepared to close down unregistered tahfiz schools in the capital.

He denied the reports, clarifying that the ministry would give unregistered centres until the end of the year to register with DBKL and Jawi.

Concerns over safety at tahfiz schools were raised following reports of abuse at such centres, as well as a fire which claimed the lives of 10 at a school in Kampung Datuk Keramat last year. -FMT