By Siti Rohaizah Zainal
KLANG, Oct 22 — The state’s tahfiz whitening programme, which enforces the registration of private religious schools, has been extended until the end of next year to allow operators to resolve several arising issues, particularly involving local authorities.
Selangor Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said the extension ensures the related institutions obtain the necessary certifications to operate, according to established guidelines.
“The majority (of the process) have been completed, such as the aspects of fire safety, health and building approval, with the exception of local authorities, which are addressing several issues one by one.
“Thank God we have extended the registration period until the end of next year, because some of the issues are not the fault of the premises owners. There are some delays at the local authority level due to certain processes.
“Sometimes, they involve zone relocations, and these take time because local councils have to look at the issue comprehensively,” he said when officiating the 40th anniversary celebration of the Hafiz Education Center here, yesterday.
Amirudin also expressed his gratitude to the Selangor Tahfiz Al-Quran Institutions Association (Pitas) for the support it has given to tahfiz institutions statewide in the registration process.
Meanwhile, Pitas chairman Mohamad Hafiz Haneefa said to date, 100 tahfiz schools in Selangor have been registered in line with the guidelines established by the state.
“These institutions have given planning approval and certificates of fitness. Although the cost was high, the registration managed to be completed with the help of various parties.
“The Town and Country Planning Department (PLANMalaysia), Pitas, Selangor Islamic Religious Department and local councils have also discussed and prepared a new guideline that will better facilitate the registration of tahfiz schools.
“We hope this matter will be brought up at the state administration meeting as soon as possible and that this issue will be resolved once and for all,” he said.
Previously in 2019, the state had formulated the Selangor Private Religious School (Tahfiz Institution) Registration Guidelines in 2019, with the aim of elevating the quality and status of the institutions.
The effort was taken following a decree by the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj, who was concerned about the increasing number of unfortunate incidents involving private religious schools in the state.
The guidelines were established just a year after a tragic fire at a tahfiz school in 2018 claimed 23 lives and injured five students.
