SHAH ALAM: "I have forgiven them, and I leave it to the courts to punish them because what they did was wrong."
These were the words of Nasron Mat Yusof, 46, the father of two victims of Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah Tahfiz School fire two weeks ago, when asked to comment on the six teenagers charged in connection with the incident.
Nasron, who lost his 13-year-old son while another was seriously burnt in the Sept 14 incident, said he felt that there was no point to hold vengeance against those who caused the fire.
"I lost a son in this incident, another is in hospital ward now. I have forgiven those responsible, but I hope they will repent and get the guidance they need in this life.
"There is no point in keeping a grudge. I have given my forgiveness since the beginning, as that is the only way I can have peace in my heart.
"But the process of the law has to continue. I don't know if those charged with murder would get the death punishment, let the court decide. For me, what is there to be satisfied if they go to the gallows? If I forgive them, Allah might reward me with pahala (reward)," he said when contacted today.
Nasron, who lives in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, said he did not go to the court where the teenagers were charged as he was working, but kept updated through news reports.
He said the incident should also be a wakeup call for the public, especially Muslims, on the importance of guiding the future generation from going astray.
Nasron lost his youngest child Mohd Nizamuddin, 13, while his elder son Zunnun Misiri, 15, sustained 20 per cent burns on his body in the 5am fire.
Meanwhile, Wan Nor Hisham Wan Nor Jaafar, 47, the father of another survivor of the fire, said he felt that the charging of the teenagers would give some sort of justice to the victims and their families.
"For me, what they did was very serious, they murdered people. The other teenagers should have also been charged with murder, but the law does not allow underaged to be charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
"But at least two are made responsible for the murders. Hopefully this can give justice to the families of those who perished in the blaze," he said when contacted.
Nor Hisham's son Wan Muhammad Danish Hisham, 14, sustained burns on his nose, ears and hands in the incident.