logo
UMNO backs AGC's inquest into Zara Qairina's death amid bullying claims

UMNO backs AGC's inquest into Zara Qairina's death amid bullying claims

The Sun2 days ago
KUALA LUMPUR: UMNO has voiced strong support for the Attorney General's Chambers' decision to hold an inquest into the death of Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir.
The party's secretary-general, Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, emphasised the need for an independent and transparent investigation to uncover any criminal involvement.
He stated that UMNO's Supreme Council, led by president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, unanimously backed the move during a recent meeting.
'UMNO is deeply saddened by Zara Qairina's tragic death, which is suspected to be linked to bullying,' Asyraf Wajdi said.
He criticised the initial handling of the case, calling it weak and inconsistent with police standard operating procedures.
The AGC confirmed the inquest after reviewing the investigation report submitted by the Royal Malaysia Police.
The decision aligns with subsection 339(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code, ensuring a thorough legal process.
Bukit Aman CID director Datuk M. Kumar revealed that the case, initially treated as sudden death, would now probe potential criminal acts, including bullying.
A special CID team of nine officers was deployed to Sabah on Aug 11 to reinvestigate the incident.
Zara Qairina, 13, was pronounced dead at Queen Elizabeth I Hospital on July 17 after being found unconscious near her school dormitory the previous day. - Bernama
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Need for clear legal definitions of bullying
Need for clear legal definitions of bullying

The Star

time4 hours ago

  • The Star

Need for clear legal definitions of bullying

KUALA LUMPUR: Having clear legal definitions of bullying would make it easier to teach children about the issue, says a child psychologist. Dr Noor Aishah Rosli, of the Gerakan Gubal Akta Anti-Buli (GAB) group, said an anti-bullying legislation would help teachers and parents explain to children exactly what constitutes bullying. 'A law has to explicitly define bullying. Is it pushing? Is it rough action towards victims? 'If the actions are clearly spelled out, psychologists can address the issue more effectively,' she said at a press conference in Setiawangsa yesterday. GAB, which has been advocating for a specific anti-bullying law since 2022, is proposing penalties such as community service, rehabilitation centre placement or class demotion paired with mandatory counselling. Noor Aishah said the root of the problem often starts at home, making early education vital. 'Parents and teachers, starting from preschool, are crucial in educating children on this,' she said. Lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla, also present at the press conference, said existing laws are limited and lack robustness. 'Bullying is widespread and not limited to schoolchildren. 'We are not dismissing current measures, but a separate, specific law is needed,' he said. GAB president and lawyer Wan Azliana Wan Adnan noted that the government had enacted the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act, questioning why a similar effort could not be made for bullying. 'We have submitted a memorandum and report on the issue to the relevant ministries, legal departments, as well as the Education Ministry and Higher Education Ministry,' she said. Wan Azliana also stressed that the proposed law differs from the recent Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code amendments, which target physical and cyber bullying. 'There are existing laws with various sections related to bullying, but a specific anti-bullying law would clearly outline every­thing in one place and define what bullying is,' she said.

Cabinet enforces clear anti-bullying measures after Zara Qairina's death
Cabinet enforces clear anti-bullying measures after Zara Qairina's death

The Star

time4 hours ago

  • The Star

Cabinet enforces clear anti-bullying measures after Zara Qairina's death

PUTRAJAYA: The government is standardising the enforcement of Sections 507B to 507G of the Penal Code to make clear to all quarters that bullying is a crime, says Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil (pic). He said the move is part of efforts to enforce newly amended anti-bullying laws and reflects Putrajaya's zero-tolerance stance on abuse. The matter was discussed at yesterday's Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, following the high-profile death of a 13-year-old boarding school student in Sabah. 'The Prime Minister conveyed a firm view that the government will not allow such bullying behaviour to persist. 'Among the measures being coordinated by ministers is the implementation of the amended provisions, which took effect in July, and define bullying, inclu­ding cyberbullying, as a criminal offence. 'We want to ensure all ministries, especially those managing educational institutions, such as boarding schools, understand and follow through with enforcement,' Fahmi told reporters after attending the 20th Civil Service Premier Assembly here yesterday. The Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2025 and the Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) Act 2025, aimed at tackling bullying more effectively, were passed in the Dewan Rakyat on Dec 10 and in the Dewan Negara on Dec 16 last year. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail is also expected to address several cases in his ministerial statement in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday, inclu­ding the death of Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir and the attack on the son of former economy minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli. Zara Qairina was found unconscious near her dormitory at SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha in Papar, Sabah, on July 16 and died the next day at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu. Although police initially classified the case as sudden death, public concern over possible bullying prompted the Attorney General's Chambers to order an exhumation and inquest. Investigations are ongoing, with Bukit Aman's Integrity and Standards Compliance Depart­ment also looking into possible procedural lapses by police and school supervisors. In the separate incident, Rafizi said two men on a motorcycle tailed his wife's car before one attacked his son with a syringe at a shopping mall in Putrajaya. He said he believes the attack was premeditated.

NST Leader: No end to bullying
NST Leader: No end to bullying

New Straits Times

time7 hours ago

  • New Straits Times

NST Leader: No end to bullying

BULLYING is, sadly, a universal phenomenon as old as the dawn of history. It's why Neanderthals vanished 40,000 to 45,000 years ago, harried out of existence by the more aggressive Homo sapiens. From there on, from tribal clashes of nomads to hunter gatherers to the great civilisations of antiquity, all were founded on invasions and wars — prime bullying methods. Brutalising others without consequences is why international conflicts, like what is unfolding in Palestine and Ukraine, continue without end. In the modern day, bullying has entered the online and psychological realms through cyberbullying. It has evolved from the physical menace in schools, dormitories, even the office. Victims can be driven to retaliate with lethal weapons. In America, they fire assault rifles at their tormentors. Bullying in Malaysia remains serious among schoolchildren and university students. A study by a non-governmental organisation found that 38 per cent of respondents report having been in a bullying situation during their school years as victims, bullies or both, of physical, verbal and cyber types. The bullied comprise 21.4 per cent while 9.4 per cent were actual bullies while 7.2 per cent were both victims and perpetrators. Victims suffer from depression and are vulnerable to self-harm. The death of Zara Qairina Mahathir, a Form One student from Papar, Sabah, is yet another tragic statistic. Found unconscious outside her dormitory building, Zara Qairina is suspected to have fallen from the third floor. She was pronounced dead at the hospital and buried a day later. The ensuing national furore led to her exhumation and a forensic probe. Police have found signs of physical bullying. But this time, police are empowered under the Penal Code to arrest Zara Qairina's tormentors and haul them to justice. What went wrong here? How do we prevent such incidents? Reinforcing awareness, preventive programmes and school mental health support are ongoing initiatives. In government hospitals, signs are everywhere warning the public to not harangue medical staff.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store