22/01/2010
PASIR MAS: Three blocks of Kelantan’s oldest “pondok” school (private Islamic school) in Kampung Lubuk Tapah here were destroyed in a fire early Friday.
An eye-witness, Hanipa Zakaria, 59, said he came to know of the fire at 1.45am as he was about to go to bed.
“There was much noise outside my house and, when I went out, I saw part of one block ablaze,” he told reporters.
Hanipa said he woke up several of his family members and they rushed out of the house, which was located near the school, as the fire spread rapidly.
“Almost 70% of my house was damaged by the fire, but I managed to salvage a car,” he said.
It is learnt that the school has an enrolment of 55 pupils, among them Cambodians.
Pasir Mas Fire and Rescue Station chief Adnan Said said the station received a call at 1.55am and firemen, who arrived there five minutes later, prevented the fire from spreading to nearby buildings.
He said the cause of the fire was being investigated, and that the loss was estimated at RM785,000. Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat visited the school. — Bernama
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/1/22/nation/20100122195608&sec=nation
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