Tahfiz students stay put despite blaze
Published on: Tuesday, February 19, 2019
TUARAN: Most of the 41 students at the Tahfiz Tarbiyatun Nisa centre’s two-storey female hostel in Kampung Marabahai here, which was completely destroyed by fire on Feb 14, are continuing their studies in a prayer house located behind the hostel.
The student residents, aged seven to 26 managed to escape in the 6.50am incident unscathed. They have been staying at the prayer house since.
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Most of them told Daily Express they do not want to move out or have to go to and from the centre, but remain there and assist the hostel administrator in handling all the items donated by the public.
Two were taken home by their parents while four were absent and at home when it happend.
The centre has received donations in cash, food, clothes, shoes, mattresses, washing machine, fans etc from over 20 non-governmental organisations (NGOs), government agencies and the generous public.
A team from the National Registration Department (NRD) also came at 11am Monday to assist those who did not manage to salvage their important documents to make temporary identification document.
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One of the residents, Syakilah Mubin, 17, from Sepanggar, said although they have to sleep in cramp conditions they were thankful and accepted what had happened.
“It is enough for us as long as we have a shelter from the hot sun or rain.
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“Today we received various donations and assisted to make new identification documents without having to go the NRD office,” she said.
Aqilla Nadia Nana, 17, from Putrajaya in Telipok, said:
“Most who still remained here are either orphans or from poor families from as far as Lahad Datu, Sandakan, Keningau and Nabawan. Because it is very hard for us to go back we decided to stay put even when we were given a break,” she said.
Earlier, hostel manager, Ustazah Aishah Abdul Halim, said apart from donations, they so far received RM200,000 in funding.
She said they would require RM800,000 for building a new hostel and hoped they will be able to get the amount despite having to wait for quite a long time.
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