Charge those involved in bullying Zara Qairina, say lawyers
Referring to details revealed by federal police Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk M. Kumar, they said several key disclosures were made related to the death of the 13-year-old.
Among the findings were statements pointing towards bullying before the incident that befell Zara.
"If those statements can be trusted in court, we propose that the Attorney-General's Chambers prosecute the individual or individuals named in those statements who committed the bullying under Section 507D(2) of the Penal Code (criminalising threatening, insulting, or defamatory words and acts that provoke harm).
"Under this section, offenders may be punished with imprisonment of up to 10 years, or a fine, or both.
"If this step is taken, an inquest will no longer be necessary," said a joint statement issued by Shahlan Jufri, Rizwandean M. Borhan, Mohd Luqman Syazwan Zabidi, Mohd Syarulnizam Mohd Salleh and Farrah Nasser.
The lawyers, however, said that should those statements not be strong or sufficient enough to constitute an offence under Section 507D(2) of the Penal Code, further investigations must continue to strengthen such evidence.
"In this situation, the inquest should be conducted concurrently with the further investigations. Prosecution can then follow."
The team urged people with information to come forward and assist investigations.
"Channel your information to the police. If you are afraid or need assistance to do so, you may meet with us.
"We thank Datuk M. Kumar and the Bukit Aman special task force for acting swiftly to investigate Zara's death.
"Finally, we thank and appreciate all Malaysians who have supported and prayed for justice for Zara.
"At the same time, please refrain from making false speculations regarding Zara's death."
Zara, a 13-year-old student of SMKA Tun Mustapha in Papar, was found unconscious on July 16 at her school and pronounced dead the following day at Queen Elizabeth Hospital here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Express
42 minutes ago
- Daily Express
Sabah AMK urges respect in response to Zara Qairina tragedy
Published on: Saturday, August 16, 2025 Published on: Sat, Aug 16, 2025 Text Size: Sabah AMK leaders criticise Aliakbar's (inset) call for the public to wear black on National Day and Malaysia Day. KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Angkatan Muda Keadilan (AMK) has criticised Sabah Pas Commissioner Datuk Aliakbar Gulasan's call for the public to wear black during National Day and Malaysia Day as a gesture of solidarity over the death of Zara Qairina. In a statement issued after its leadership meeting today, Sabah AMK said the tragedy should be addressed with empathy and respect rather than turned into a political symbol through protest attire during national celebrations. The movement stressed that National Day and Malaysia Day are sacred occasions to be marked with patriotism, gratitude, and love for the nation, serving as a unifying force for all Malaysians. At the same time, AMK Sabah conveyed its sympathy and solidarity to Zara Qairina's family, acknowledging the deep loss and reiterating the public's desire for justice in the case. The group also urged the public to exercise caution in sharing information online, noting that unverified claims on social media could cause confusion and disrupt the ongoing investigation. Sabah AMK further called on all parties to allow the police to complete their investigation transparently and in accordance with the law, free from undue pressure or speculation. The youth wing expressed confidence that the investigation will reach a fair outcome for Zara Qairina while encouraging Malaysians to uphold the spirit of patriotism during the upcoming national celebrations. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Syndicate prostituting teens, including Form 2 girls, busted
KENINGAU: A human trafficking syndicate that exploited secondary school students for sex work has been dismantled following a series of special operations carried out between July 24 and 29. Keningau district police chief Superintendent Yampil Anak Garai said investigations revealed that the syndicate had recruited teenage girls — including two Form Two students — to be prostituted to clients. "The operation was launched after the victims' parents lodged a report on July 24. "Following this, a team from the Keningau district Criminal Investigation Department rescued four victims aged between 13 and 21, and arrested eight individuals to assist in the investigation," he said when contacted today. One of the suspects, an 18-year-old girl known as "Elly," believed to have acted as the "madam," has already been charged in court under Section 14 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007. Yampil said the syndicate used social media platforms to find clients, charging around RM200 per session. The victims were then sent to pre-arranged hotels, and the earnings were split between the suspect and the victim. "All victims were taken to Keningau Hospital for medical checks and placed at a shelter for women and children. "For the two underage victims, the court approved a three-month protection order, and they have been placed at the Ampang Shelter in Selangor until Nov 13," he added.
Borneo Post
2 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Mandatory teacher training needed to tackle bullying, says Irene Chang
Irene Chang SIBU (Aug 16): The Ministry of Education and the Sarawak Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development must make teacher training on recognising and addressing early signs of bullying mandatory, said former Bukit Assek assemblywoman Irene Chang. She said schools should also provide anonymous reporting channels for students, establish clear SOPs and intervention protocols, and ensure immediate counselling support for both victims and perpetrators. 'Protecting our students requires more than reactive measures. It requires equipping educators with the skills and courage to act decisively and compassionately, before bullying escalates,' she said in a statement. Chang was commenting on the death of 13-year-old Zara Qirina Mahathir, who was found unsconcious on the ground floor of her dormitory at SMKA Tun Mustapha in Papar on July 16 and pronounced dead the following day. Chang said the heart-breaking incident of Zara was a clarion call to the Sarawak Education Department and the school authorities in the state to remain very alert against school bullying. She said Zara's case was a clarion call for Sarawak education authorities to remain vigilant against bullying, stressing that the problem is entrenched in the state as well. 'Bullying in Sarawak is too often swept under the carpet. Surveys show nearly one in three Malaysian students experience bullying, and the figures here may be higher as many cases go unreported. Parents fear retaliation, while schools may want to protect their record. This culture of silence is unacceptable,' she said She said the reasons for not reporting the school bullying are painfully familiar: school authorities determined to protect their 'good record' and parents afraid that speaking out will lead to retaliation against their children. 'This culture of silence is unacceptable. It not only robs victims of the protection they deserve, but also empowers bullies to continue their behaviour without consequence.' Since the recent spate of university/school bullying, including Zara's tragic case, Chang said helplines and awareness campaigns have been much publicized by the authorities. 'However, to truly curb and reduce the numbers of such incidences happening in schools, much more needs to be done to prevent and intervene before bullying is allowed to take root. Without proper training, even well-meaning educators may dismiss, downplay, or mishandle cases – leaving victims unprotected and perpetrators unchecked, she claimed. Additionally, Chang said school bullying does not only encompass physical acts of bullying. In reality, she said it includes mental and emotional abuse as in persistent mocking, public humiliation, deliberate exclusion, spreading false rumors, and targeted online harassment. 'These behaviors can erode a child's self-worth, cause anxiety or depression, and leave scars that are invisible but long-lasting. And because this type of bullying leaves no physical bruises, it is often dismissed or overlooked.' She said teachers, parents and school authorities must therefore be trained to recognise these subtle but destructive behaviors and act swiftly to stop them. bullying education Irene Chang teachers training
