Neighbour hands over footage from 30 CCTVs

KUALA LUMPUR: Footage from more than 30 CCTVs near the tahfiz has been handed to investigators trying to determine the cause of the fire that claimed 23 lives.

The cameras were mounted at the Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) near the school.

PPIM head Datuk Nadzim Johan said the footage showed several unidentified people loitering in the area before the fire.

He said the blaze could have been aimed at PPIM as revenge.

“We are not sure, however we can’t deny it. Nothing is impossible,” he said.

But the association has not lodged a police report on the matter.

“We don’t see the need to make one at the moment. But if there is proof, we will,” he said.

He pledged that the association would cooperate fully with the authorities.

Asked if it had received threats, Nadzim said it was threatened regularly.

“Getting threats and PPIM are ‘close as siblings’,” he added.

Nadzim called for stricter regulations to prevent a similar tragedy in future.

“Some might say that it is fate but without proper regulations it’s as if we are tempting fate,” he said.

The Fire and Rescue Department said it would need two weeks to complete its probe.

Its directorgeneral Datuk Wan Mohd Nor Ibrahim said it was looking at all angles, including a short circuit and a defective cooking gas cylinder.

InspectorGeneral of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said it was also investigating.

He said statements would be taken from all involved, including the survivors and school principal.

Police have classified the case as sudden death at this point.