Call for anti-bullying law renewed after death of Zara Qairina

Borneo Post

a day ago

Matbali (second left) receiving the appointment letter as Friends of Ministry of the Ministry of Works from Works Minister Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi (second right) at the Parliament building on Tuesday.
KOTA KINABALU (Aug 14): Sipitang Member of Parliament Datuk Matbali Musah has urged the government to immediately enact a specific anti-bullying law, following the tragic death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir, which has shocked the nation.
Debating the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13) in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday, Matbali opened his speech by recalling the incident that claimed the teenager's life at her school last month.
He said the case not only brought immense grief to Zara Qairina's family in Sipitang but also sparked deep concern across the country.
'This is not just sad news — it is a powerful wake-up call for all of us,' he said. 'It raises serious questions about how far we have truly safeguarded the safety of our children in educational institutions. If bullying was indeed involved, then this is no longer a matter of discipline — it is an act of violence that claimed a life,' he added, speaking with visible emotion.
This is the second time Matbali has raised the issue in Parliament, having previously brought it up during the debate on the Education (Amendment) Bill 2025 on July 30.
He called on the government to take proactive and transparent action to address the case, stressing that a dedicated anti-bullying law must be enacted without delay.
'Let there be clear guidelines, protection for victims and whistleblowers, and firm action against perpetrators,' he said.
Matbali also expressed appreciation to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Federal Government, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and the State Government, as well as all concerned parties, for their condolences and firm commitment to resolving Zara Qairina's case transparently and thoroughly.
During the debate, Matbali called for Sipitang District to have a modern, advanced health complex to cater to the needs of over 35,000 residents.
He expressed hope the proposal would be made a key development project under the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13), noting Sipitang's size of 2,437 sq km — equivalent to the entire state of Melaka.
'I hope my proposal will be given serious consideration, in line with efforts to upgrade Sipitang Hospital into a specialist hospital in the future. This also matches the district's geostrategic location bordering Labuan and Sarawak, and along the international route to Brunei Darussalam and Kalimantan, Indonesia,' he said.
Matbali said several health clinics around Sipitang — including Sindumin (19.6km away), Mendulong, Meligan, and Long Pasia (115km) — could use the health complex as a patient referral centre, reducing the need to send patients to Beaufort or Kota Kinabalu.
He also reiterated concerns over the unfinished Pan Borneo Highway project along the Sipitang–Beaufort stretch, calling on the Works Ministry to act immediately.
'This road no longer makes travel easier; it has made things worse and has contributed to several accidents. According to official statistics, there were 16 accidents reported along this stretch from January to July this year, compared to 23 cases for the whole of last year,' he said.
Matbali further highlighted stalled upgrades to Jalan Mentulud, Jalan Mendulong, and the road from Kampung Mendulong to Kampung Meligan.
Other issues raised included the need for electricity in remote areas such as Kg Long Pasia, Long Mio, Meligan, Ulu Bole and Iburu, which still rely on generators, and the 'three-in-one' problem of flooding, riverbank erosion, and siltation in the constituency.
'Flooding often occurs in Pekan Sindumin, especially in Kg Skim Sindumin and Tanjung Nipis, reaching water levels up to 1.5 metres due to overflow from Sungai Mengalong,' he said, adding that riverbank erosion along Sungai Padas in Beaufort and siltation at the mouth of Sungai Sipitang were worsening navigation and flood risks.