ALOR SETAR: A total of 36 students from the Institute of Al-Quran Darul Aman (IQDAR) here had to be rushed to Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital (HSB) for suspected food poisoning this morning.
The students, comprising 21 boys and 15 girls, had suffered from abdominal pain, diarrhoea, dizziness and vomiting.
Fifteen were sent to HSB from 9am, while the rest were treated at the hostel.
IQDAR deputy director Muhammad Yusni Yaakob said the institute noted something was amiss after many students failed to show up for classes at 8am.
"The lecturer then did a check at the student dormitory and found some students experiencing symptoms of food poisoning such as vomiting, diarrhoea and dizziness.
"They are believed to have eaten nasi Arab with mutton and chicken delivered by a restaurant at 11pm, but based on confessions from students, some only ate the food between 1am and 5am," he said when met at IQDAR here today.
Yusni said all the students aged between 18 and 21 years were attending Tahfiz Al Quran and Al Qiraati Diploma programmes.
To avoid overcrowding at the hospital, the Kedah State Health Department has placed officers and nurses at IQDAR to monitor the condition of the 21 students who are being treated at the hostel.
Meanwhile, student Muhammad Afham Anwar, 20, said he ate the nasi Arab at about 1am, before getting stomach cramps.
"When I was eating it, the food was in good condition, although the chicken smelt a bit funny. I began to feel stomach pain from 2am, but managed to get some sleep when the pains subsided.
"But when I was getting ready for class at 8am, I felt the pain again, followed by diarrhoea," he added.
Another student, Marwadah Anuar, 20, said she ate the rice at 5am and felt dizzy after the dawn prayers.
"I think the rice was still in good condition, but the chicken smelt a bit different. I ate just a little after that.
"After the dawn prayers, I started to experience stomach pains, dizziness and vomiting," she added.