Sipitang MP hopeful post-mortem will shed light on student's death

New Straits Times

11 hours ago

KOTA KINABALU: Sipitang MP Datuk Matbali Musah is hopeful that the post-mortem on the late Zara Qairina Mahathir, carried out today at Queen Elizabeth I Hospital (QEH1), will shed light on the circumstances surrounding her death.
"We are hoping that today will provide clarity on all aspects of this case," he told reporters at the QEH1 compound.
He urged the public not to speculate on social media regarding the matter.
"We hope that netizens and the public will refrain from making or sharing unverified claims on social media. We do not want such actions to cause confusion or worsen the situation," he said.
Responding to allegations that certain politicians or leaders had not shown support for the case, Matbali stressed that this was untrue.
"Leaders at all levels have given their full support. In fact, the prime minister himself has been in contact with the home minister and the attorney-general to ensure that the investigation is conducted transparently.
"There will be no compromise for anyone involved. This is a case that we must ensure is handled openly and fairly," he said.
He also expressed gratitude to the government, particularly the Ministry of Education, the Home Ministry, the police and the Health Ministry for their attention to the case.
On the #JusticeForZara solidarity event scheduled for this evening in Sipitang, Matbali said he would be unable to attend as he needed to return to Kuala Lumpur for the debate on the 13th Malaysia Plan in Parliament.
However, he hopes that everything will proceed smoothly, including the investigation into Zara Qairina's case, as not only leaders but also netizens were praying and hoping for justice to be served for her.
Zara, a Form One student at a religious school in Papar, Sabah, was found unconscious after allegedly falling from the dormitory building.
She was pronounced dead at Queen Elizabeth I Hospital at 1.07pm on July 17.
The 13-year-old student's body arrived at the hospital at 10.30pm yesterday after being exhumed from the Tanjung Ubi Muslim Cemetery in Sipitang at 7.30pm. It was sent to the Radiology Department for a CT scan before being kept at the Medical Forensics Department.
Four pathologists, including one from Peninsular Malaysia, conducted the post-mortem on Zara Qairina Mahathir.