Religious school says it will take full responsibility over death of abused boy

KOTA TINGGI: A spokesman from Madrasah Tahfiz Al-Jauhar today said the school will take full responsibility over the death of Mohamad Thaqif Amin Mohd Ghaddafi.
"We will face it and not run away," the spokesman, who declined to be named, said when met at the school in Kampung Lukut here on Thursday.
He said the police were free to conduct their investigations and that the school had completed its internal report and submitted it to the police.
"We have good relationship with Thaqif's parents. In fact, we sent a bus full of students and teachers to attend the funeral today morning. We still greeted each other," he said.
The funeral was held at 12.30am on Thursday.
There are a total 109 students at the school, mostly from within Johor.
The spokesman said a team of doctors and nurses had visited the school and conducted a four hours health screening test on every member of the school on April 26.
According to the management staff, no one was taken to hospital for further examinations after the screening, which was held from 9am to 1pm.
The spokesman said he was unhappy as some media and social media had shed a lot of negative light on the school.
Our dorm is not as small as alleged by some reports.
He said, the school has a big dorm which accommodate up to 80 students, and a smaller dorm. A two bed room served as a temporary room for students who fell sick.
He said the school had also just installed a CCTV system to enhance security at the campus.
He said the school also held a recent talk with parents over Thaqif's case on April 24.
He said the parents were very understanding and no one left the boarding school after the tragedy.
Whether the board of directors or management staff offered to resign because of Thaqif's case, he said no because everything was under police investigation.
He however declined to answer why the school hired an ex-convict whom had served a 30 months jail sentence because of theft.
"We will give our reasons later," he said.
On the school's registration, he said religious schools only need to register under the state Islam education department.
He also declined to answer when asked if the school caned students.