KUALA LUMPUR: Six suspects arrested in connection with the fire at the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah religious school, which claimed the lives of 23 students and teachers last week, had been expelled due to disciplinary problems including truancy.

Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid said appropriate action was taken as the six had been absent from school from 2012 until last year.

“For example, a 16-year-old suspect only attended school when he was in Form One in 2012,” he told reporters at the launch of an anti-drug campaign at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Seri Saujana here yesterday.

Mahdzir said the schools had taken numerous forms of action, including issuing warning letters and meeting with their parents before the suspects were expelled.

However, an 18-year-old suspect managed to finish school and furthered his studies at a skills training institution.

The 5.15am blaze last Thursday claimed the lives of 21 students and two teachers who were trapped in the three-story building.