DAP man slams police over mishandling of Zara Qairina case, urges immediate reforms

Borneo Post

18 hours ago

Ling says the mishandling of the case, particularly the IO's failure to conduct a post-mortem, represents a grave injustice to the victim's family and undermines public confidence in the PDRM.
MIRI (Aug 15): Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak secretary Alan Ling has expressed outrage over the controversy surrounding the investigation into the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir, calling for urgent reforms in police investigative procedures and supervisions.
Ling, an experienced lawyer, said the mishandling of the case, particularly the investigating officer's (IO) failure to conduct a post-mortem, represents a grave injustice to the victim's family and undermines public confidence in the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM).
'This makes me very angry, as the family has lost a loved one. The IO, who is trained in investigative procedures and standard operating procedures (SOP), should have informed the family of their rights and fulfilled their duties diligently,' he said in a statement today.
Ling's remarks were made in response to growing concerns over how investigative procedures are often inadequately explained to laypersons.
Zara was found unconscious in her dormitory at SMKA Tun Mustapha in Papar on July 16 and was pronounced dead the following day at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
A recent news report revealed that Zara's mother, Noraidah Lamat, was in shock and panic when she was asked to sign a consent form waiving a post-mortem examination immediately after her daughter's death.
She later said the family would not have signed the form had the implications been clearly explained by the IO.
Following public outcry and widespread protests, police exhumed Zara's body and carried out a post-mortem, after the case was taken over by Bukit Aman.
Ling noted that while Zara's mother may not have been well-versed in legal procedures, the IO had a professional responsibility to recognise the suspicious nature of the case and ensure a thorough investigation was conducted.
'The mother may not be exposed to the legal process, but the IO, given the circumstances, should have probed further.
'This must serve as a lesson for all levels of the PDRM. The public's confidence in the police force is at stake,' he said.
Ling stressed that the incident calls for urgent attention by the top police leadership to strengthen training and SOPs, especially in monitoring how IOs handle serious cases.
'Better supervision mechanisms are vital, particularly in cases involving death or potential foul play. There should be multiple tiers of oversight, including superior officers monitoring how investigations are conducted and progressed,' he added.
Ling also pointed out that many IOs are relatively young and may be fresh graduates lacking experience and exposure, which further underscores the need for stronger institutional support.
Zara's death has drawn national attention, with Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail confirming that there were indications of incompetence and procedural breaches by the IO at the Papar police station.
Members of the public have continued to call for accountability against the officers involved in the mishandling of the case. Alan Ling mishandling police Zara Qairina