Mocking remarks motive behind tahfiz tragedy

Early police investigation revealed that the fire tragedy at Pusat Tahfiz Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah, which claimed the lives of 23 students and teachers, was carried out with malicious intent.

Kuala Lumpur Police Cheif Datuk Amar Singh Ishar Singh said that mocking jibes between the seven suspects arrested in connection to the tragedy and a group of students from the tahfiz centre was the motive behind the fire.

“Their intention was to start a fire but since they are still young, they are not aware of repercussion of their actions,” said Amar Singh at a media conference in connection with the tragedy here on Saturday.

The seven suspects detained are aged between 11 and 18.

“The tests results of the drug urine tests disclosed that six suspects were positive on marijuana. Two suspects possess old criminal cases involving rioting and stealing vehicle,” said Amar Singh.

Police had also confiscated the suspects' belongings including five clothing items, four helmets, three motorbikes and three mobile phones.

All suspects have been remanded for seven days effective today.

According to Amar Singh, the police believed that with the arrests of the seven suspects, the case is closed.

“We are keeping an open-mind when inspecting the evidences as well as handling the investigation results,” he said.

When asked about the existence of two gas tanks retrieved from the tahfiz centre, Amar Singh said that the police had confirmed that the tanks were carried to the upper level of the centre with the intention to burn.

“We can verify that one of the substance was based on hydrocarbon to expedite burning process,” he added.