ALOR STAR: The family of one of the students who perished in the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah Tahfiz school in Datuk Keramat, Kuala Lumpur yesterday has agreed for his remains to be laid to rest alongside the other victims.
The granduncle of 10-year-old victim Muhamad Aidil Aqmal Mohamad Zamzuri, Baha'udin Ahmad, 70, from Pendang, Kedah said the boy’s parents have agreed to allow him to be buried with his late classmates.
Baha'udin said the initial plan was to bring the remains back to Pendang for the funeral, but that Aidil's parents finally agreed to the school's request for the boy to be laid to rest with the other boys.
"I was informed of the decision early today, so Aidil Aqmal's remains will not be brought back (to Kedah)," he said when contacted.
Aidil Aqmal was one of 22 students of the tahfiz killed in the fire tragedy early yesterday, which also claimed the lives of two teachers.
Baha'udin, from Kampung Banggol Mukim Rambai, said he learnt about the fire yesterday morning when watching a television news report, but did not expect that Aidil Aqmal was involved in the tragedy.
"I only learnt of the devastating news from one of my nephews about an hour later," he said.
He said Aidil Aqmal and his family live in Kuala Lumpur, and occasionally returned to their hometown, especially during festive occasions.
Baha'udin added that Aidil's father, Zamzuri Zakaria, 40, had bought a house in Pendang and was planning to shift his family back to Kedah upon his retirement.