KUALA LUMPUR: A dream to perform the umrah became a reality for 16 students who survived the fire at the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah religious school last month.
The students, accompanied by three of their teachers, left for Madinah in a trip sponsored by cosmetic entrepreneur Datuk Seri Dr Hasmiza Othman popularly known as Datuk Seri Vida.
Vida had pledged the trip to 18 of those who survived the fire which killed 23 people including two wardens at Kampung Datuk Keramat on Sept 14.
“This is the first group who will be performing the umrah and travel dates for a second group have yet to be set,” she said and explained the two who could not make the trip were still undergoing treatment from their injuries in the fire.
"I believe this umrah experience could give a chance for them to start fresh again and be blessed by the almighty God.
"Looking at these innocent faces, it reminds me of my two sons that I had lost from a fire tragedy that took place at my house previously," she said in reference to the death of Muhammad Eddie Zuhdi Mohd Amin, 11, and Muhammad Edrie Zikrie, 10, four years ago.
Besides helping the students, Vida said she had a vision of managing her own religious school which is deemed as an investment in the afterlife.
"I have a plan to build my own tahfiz school which will be located at my hometown at Tanah Merah, Kelantan and hopefully, the setting up of the school could start in December," she said.
Once of the survivors, Che Wan Ahmad Hafizuddin Che Wan Zulkarnain, 13, said he had a dream about performing the umrah with his friends and he was glad it is now becoming a reality having been chosen for the trip.
"I did not expect that I would get this opportunity at such a young age, yet I'm happy that the dream has become a reality.
"I am grateful and hope I could pray my friends who were killed in the tragedy,” Che Wan Ahmad said.