Zahid calls for special committee to probe deadly school fire that killed 23

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. PHOTO: THE STAR

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) - Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Friday (Sept 15) called for the setting up of a special committee to investigate the fire that claimed 23 lives at the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah religious residential school in Kuala Lumpur.

"We have to set up the committee immediately. We don't have to wait for the Cabinet meeting next Wednesday to discuss it. It is crucial for all quarters involved, the ministries concerned, to sit together and discuss," he said, offering to chair the committee.

He told reporters this after visiting victims who were rescued from the fire.

Mr Ahmad Zahid said it was important for all quarters to learn from the incident so that it would not happen again in future.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam, at a media conference on Friday, said the ministry did not rule out the possibility of setting up a special committee and would bring up the matter to the Cabinet at its next meeting.

A total of 21 students and two wardens were killed in fire at the religious school at Jalan Keramat Ujung here on Thursday (Sept 14).

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