SHAH ALAM, April 3 (Bernama) -- The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah called on Majlis Agama Islam Selangor (MAIS) to channel aid to all students impacted by the gas pipeline fire in Putra Harmoni, Putra Heights, Subang Jaya.
MAIS chairman Datuk Salehuddin Saidin to that end, he had directed Yayasan Islam Darul Ehsan (YIDE), which is under MAIS to identify the number of students affected to distribute assistance including uniforms, stationery, books and school supplies as well as other necessities needed by the students involved.
He said the assistance would be given to ensure that the students involved would not have to postpone school, but continue with the school session as usual.
"In addition, YIDE will also work with the Selangor State Government to coordinate transportation assistance for the purpose of going to and from school during the period necessary for the purpose of recovering from this tragedy," he said in a statement here today.
Salehuddin stated that Sultan Sharafuddin said this when he, along with MAIS deputy chairman YIDE chairman Tan Sri Mazlan Mansor, Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan and state Islamic Religion and Innovation Culture Exco Dr Mohammad Fahmi Ngah were summoned this morning to discuss assistance for the recovery of the victims of the gas pipeline fire tragedy in Putra Heights that occurred last Tuesday.
Salehuddin said during the meeting, Sultan Sharafuddin also expressed his sadness and sorrow over the tragedy that occurred and he also hoped that the victims and their families would be able to face this test of Allah SWT with full patience.
Elaborating further, Salehuddin said although YIDE was established by MAIS as a welfare institution to support Muslim orphans and distribute aid due to disasters in the state of Selangor, for the purpose of supporting the victims of the tragedy in Putra Heights in line with the call from the Sultan of Selangor, assistance provided will also be given to the victims of non-Muslim students.
For this purpose, he said, Sultan Sharafuddin decreed that the Selangor Muslim Infak Jariah Fund (TIJARI) should also be used to provide financial assistance to YIDE to enable YIDE to channel assistance to the students concerned.
Salehuddin said the Sultan of Selangor also ordered the management of mosques and surau, especially those close to the location of the tragedy in Putra Heights, to be ready to be used as Temporary Relief Centres (PPS) for victims involved.
"For this purpose, MAIS is responsible for allocating financial assistance through Baitulmal sources either waqf or general resources to be used for the purpose of rehabilitating mosques and surau that have been damaged by this tragedy if any, including expenses to maintain and restore mosques and surau that have been damaged after being used as PPS.
At the same time, the Sultan of Selangor also ordered that congregational fardu prayer activities should continue to be carried out as usual in mosques and surau and not postponed as long as the mosques and surau are used as PPS," he said.
To support the victims of the tragedy, Salehuddin said Sultan Sharafuddin also instructed the Selangor Zakat Board to identify the number of those who suffered destruction and damage to property for the purpose of distributing appropriate zakat assistance immediately to victims who were made homeless or those whose houses were damaged.
The massive fire incident that occurred around 8.10am last Tuesday resulted in houses and property, including vehicles within 500 metres of the scene, being destroyed or extensively damaged.
The incident also left hundreds of residents homeless and evacuated to temporary evacuation centres (PPS) as well as dozens more injured and receiving treatment at several health facilities.
--BERNAMA
