'Public has every right to demand answers in Zara Qairina's case'

Sinar Daily

3 days ago

SHAH ALAM – Former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has criticised the authorities over their handling of the investigation into the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir.
He said the public was right to demand answers in the case that has shaken the nation and raised serious concerns about justice and accountability.
'From day one, the police failed the basics, no post-mortem, no closed-circuit television evidence, no clear timeline.
'The people have every right to demand answers; loudly, publicly and without apology,' he wrote in a statement on X on Saturday.
Zaid pointed out that while Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil and other officials have urged the public not to speculate, authorities have created a climate of doubt due to what he described as failure in the early stages of the investigation.
Zaid Ibrahim's statement, posted on X on Aug 9.
This lack of transparency, he said, left the public with 'no choice' but to question what really happened.
He said speculation was now growing around whether children of high-profile individuals may have been involved in bullying Zara, an allegation that has fuelled public scepticism over whether justice will be delivered.
'In Malaysia, we all know the ugly truth, when VVIPs are involved, the rules change. Justice bends. Cases fade. Families are silenced,' he added.
Zaid said it took two weeks of intense public pressure before the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) ordered a post-mortem, something he said should have been done immediately.
He questioned whether the police would acknowledge its missteps or whether this would be 'business as usual.'
'Justice for Zara is justice for every ordinary Malaysian,' he added.
Zara, a Form One student at SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha Limauan in Sabah, was found unconscious in a drain near her school dormitory at about 3am on July 16, reportedly after falling from the third floor.
Zara Qairina was reported to have fallen from the third floor of a religious school dormitory building in Papar on July 16, before being pronounced dead the following day at Queen Elizabeth I Hospital.
She was taken to Queen Elizabeth I Hospital in Kota Kinabalu and pronounced dead at 11am the next day, after being declared brain-dead and taken off life support.
Her death, widely believed to be linked to bullying, triggered an outpouring of national grief and fury, particularly as social media users suggested possible involvement of influential individuals, fuelling suspicions of a cover-up.
On Aug 9, under pressure from the public, Zara's body was exhumed for a full post-mortem, ordered by the AGC and carried out by four forensic specialists at a cemetery in Kota Kinabalu.
The family's lawyer, Shahlan Jufri, who was present throughout the eight-hour procedure, confirmed it was conducted transparently and denied any interference from VVIPs.
The Sabah police have recorded statements from over 60 witnesses, including students, parents and school staff. A special team was also deployed to investigate the school environment.
The probe currently focused on two key areas, the cause of death and surrounding conditions.
Meanwhile, the legal team of the late Zara's family was considering applying for a formal inquest once the current police investigation concluded.
Thousands of Malaysians have since gathered in vigils and rallies across the country, united under the hashtag #JusticeForZara, demanding structural reforms and greater protection for students in schools.