#JusticeForZara rally to go ahead amid fresh probe into schoolgirl's death
Event coordinator Mhd Asisal said the gathering, expected to draw at least 10,000 participants, would take place at the Kota Kinabalu City Hall compound from 2pm.
He added that the rally would present six demands, the first being a transparent and open inquest with daily updates accessible to the media.
"All inquest documents and evidence must be made available to the family and their legal representatives. Secondly, there should be an independent monitoring panel made up of non-governmental organisations, lawyers, parents and former judges to oversee the investigation process and ensure transparency," he told the New Straits Times.
Asisal said that action must be taken against those who failed to perform their duties or demonstrated incompetence, with disciplinary measures for negligence announced within 30 days.
Other demands include requiring the Education Ministry to disclose the latest standard operating procedures (SOP) for reforming anti-bullying protocols, introducing comprehensive anti-bullying measures, and ensuring protection for witnesses and students involved in bullying cases.
Meanwhile, Suara Mahasiswa UMS activist Muhamad Fadhil Muhamad Kasim said the public's decision to rally was driven by a lack of trust in the system, an issue that prompted the involvement of Bukit Aman police, the exhumation of Zara's body, and calls for an inquest to reinvestigate the case.
"The people's anger stems from integrity and professionalism issues, particularly the non-compliance with SOP by the Sabah police. The police must take responsibility for their negligence, as public confidence in their handling of criminal cases is waning.
"Speculation is damaging, but it arises because the authorities failed to conduct a thorough investigation. The delay in the probe has heightened concerns not only among university students but also in rural communities, where many have school-going children and siblings," he said.
Fadhil also criticised politicians for only engaging with Zara's family and speaking out after the case had dragged on for some time.
Zara, 13, was found unconscious at her dormitory in SMKA Tunku Mustapha, Papar, on July 16, and was pronounced dead the following day at Queen Elizabeth Hospital here.
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