Beware of any cover-up over tahfiz student’s death
The attempt by a Johor exco member to prematurely clear the school of any blame is regretful.
Dr Jacob George
From what I know, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has still to come out with its report on the death of tahfiz school student Mohd Thaqif Amin Mohd Gaddafi, 11, who is alleged to have died due to abuse at the school.
As for the police, I am aware that they are still conducting their investigations.
And if I know the Inspector-General of Police, as I know him to be the professional he is, he will make certain that no stone is left unturned in the investigations into this horrendous tragedy which has now become both national and international.
For the record, I have received no less than 15 calls from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, Vietnam, Nepal, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, France, South Africa, Singapore, Mexico, and the US.
What is curious is the statement by Johor executive council member in charge of religious affairs, Abd Mutalip Abd Rahim, who said the Johor Islamic Affairs Department (JAIJ) had completed its investigations, and his rather controversial and contentious announcement that the tahfiz school did not commit any offence.
It sounds super-fast and premature.
Though it may sound rather ingenious to some, his statement, to me, is totally unacceptable and premature considering that both the MOH and police investigations are yet not completed.
It is embarrassing and unreasonable when we have a politician who comes out with such an insensitive statement when a student dies from injuries due to suspected physical abuse by an assistant warden at the school.
Let us start with the basics. Does this Johor executive council member know at least how many public and private religious schools there are in Johor?
And the total population of students at such entities? And their finances and background of their managements?
And for these private entities, are they being monitored, regulated, visited and have surprise visits and post-mortems initiated by those in charge of tahfiz schools?
If this politician’s behaviour and response is not bad enough, we have another politician in charge of health, environment, education and information, Ayub Rahmat, who instead of keeping silent, decided to jump on the bandwagon to give an uncalled for lecture on the protocols of the MOH investigation, when no one asked him.
It becomes intolerable when he tries to advise the public not to be too quick to judge any party until the post-mortem report is ready as no other student from the same religious school had displayed any signs of abuse similar to the deceased.
Gosh, how does he know? Did he conduct a comprehensive audit and investigation at the school, which is at the epicentre of this horrendous crime and tragedy?
Seriously, don’t such exco portfolios need a proper academic background, track record, critical thinking, professionalism, ethics, sensitiveness, knowledge of the law and, most importantly, empathy?
Is the problem just me being too sensitive?
Does it not matter that a poor tormented and tortured child has lost his life?
There are those who obviously have been caught napping and shown to be incompetent by this incident. This happened under their watch. Shouldn’t they not be exposed for their incompetence and be replaced?
Must they be protected? Must we cover up? The truth hidden at any cost? After all, only one person here lost his life. Seriously, Malaysia?
Dr Jacob George is president the Consumers Association of Subang & Shah Alam, Selangor (Cassa)
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