Mum: What happened to my Zara?
Published on: Wed, Jul 23, 2025
By: Hayati Dzulkifli Text Size: Noraidah showing a photo of herself with Zara. SIPITANG: A mother wants police to get to the bottom of what really happened that her 13-year-old daughter was found unconscious in the drain after apparently falling off the third floor of her Sekolah Menengah Agama Tun Datu Mustapha dormitory in Kinarut last Wednesday (July 16). Zara Qairina Mahathir from Sipitang was found with severe injuries at 3am and died in Queen Elizabeth Hospital the following day. She was buried the same day. Noraidah Lamat, 45, an Ustazah (religious teacher) said she has given full cooperation to the police and was called twice to record her statements. She said she preferred not to say anything more since the case is under investigation. Noraidah said Zara was always by her side and did not show any unusual sign or feelings before the tragedy. 'Zara chose to be sent to the Islamic Religious secondary school in Papar as it was her wish. Also, because she saw many of her friends were staying in school hostels and wanted to experience it. 'She also idolised me...as I had stayed in a dorm before. Hence, Zara wanted to follow suit as she had always imagined the fun and joy living with friends in a school dorm,' she said. Noraidah said it was quite difficult for her to agree to Zara's choice of school in Papar as they had never been apart except when she pursued secondary studies in the Papar school. 'At first, it was tough for me to send Zara to the school and stayed in the dorm when the school session started in February. 'I kept thinking of my daughter. There was always no peace in my heart and I always worried about her. I missed her, but iyalah, this was what she wanted,' she said, sobbing. Noraidah recalled how Zara always asked her to bake her favourite 'kek batik' (chocolate biscuit layer cake) which she did when Zara was at home. Before returning to the hostel, she prepared 'kek batik' in several containers — one for her daughter and the rest for Zara's friends and dorm mates. Zara returned home last Saturday (June 12) and said she would go back to the hostel later in the afternoon on Sunday (July 13) 'Her last meal was 'roti telur' which she made not only for me but for all of us (the whole family) before she returned to the dorm,' she said. Noraidah refused to comment when asked whether her daughter complained to her about anything or anyone. She was visited by State Minister of Science, Techology and Innovation Datuk Dr Mohd Arifin bin Mohd Arif together with Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob, and Yayasan Sabah Director Dato' Sri Ghulam Haidar Khan Bahadar cum Kawang assemblyman at her house at Kg Kalamauh, Mesapol, Monday. Dr Mohd Arifin who is in charge of education matters in Sabah presented a mock cheque of RM10,000 from Tabung Pendidikan Negeri Sabah (TPNS) as well as his personal contribution followed by personal contributions from Ghulam and Dr Yusof. Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, Sipitang MP Datuk Matbali Musah and Sabah Islamic Religious Council (Muis) Deputy Head Datuk Ustaz Malai Ali Malai Ahmad also gave their contributions through representatives. * 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
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Wednesday (Aug 6, 2025)
Malaysia * PM orders MCMC to probe claims of Muhyiddin defending foreigners' rights concerning RON95 subsidies * MCMC start probe into claims of Muhyiddin defending foreigners' rights concerning RON95 subsidies * Cops nab foreigner suspected of molesting girl in Rawang * Eyes on Johor's upcoming tourism revival * The higher the retirement age, the better? It depends * INTERACTIVE: EV boom highlights charging bay shortage * Influencers' crude food stunt now under MCMC probe * Cheapskate driver's fuel folly at Johor gas station goes viral * Electric Train Service to JB Sentral on schedule * PM: Govt debt under control, loans used for development * Traffic at standstill after car catches fire on Penang Bridge * Gang leader killed in police shootout in Bukit Tunku * Highway operators to negotiate terms with gateless toll providers at no cost to govt, says Ahmad Maslan * No conflict of interest in MACC's role as NACS secretariat, says PM * No delay to Segamat-JB stretch of electrified double track rail project, says Loke * Anti-piracy watchdog logs 94 robberies on ships in Straits of Malacca and Singapore as of July 2025 * Key prosecution witness in Guan Eng's graft trial attacked at PJ home * Dewan Rakyat erupts over linguistic duel: 'Mambar' vs 'Mambang' debate sparks laughter, fury * Muhyiddin submits letter of representation to AGC, seeks to quash Jana Wibawa-linked charges * Ensure basic education facilities are part of your plans, Anwar tells housing developers * No plans to demolish remaining structures of historic KK community centre, says Liew * 11 foreign nationals refused entry at Bukit Kayu Hitam ICQS Complex * Melaka mechanic remanded for allegedly raping, beating children * Short-term rental operators need to obtain licences soon, says Tiong * Three charged with murdering alleged flasher in Malacca * PJ to extend entertainment outlet operating hours to 3am * Duo fined RM10,000 each for controlling bank accounts of 90 people * Woman and daughter die after falling off Pulau Ketam jetty * Key witness in Guan Eng's trial was also robbed, say cops * Malaysia Airlines showcases signature hospitality in 'Time for Malaysia Airlines' campaign * Jobless man charged with attempted murder of policeman * Chief Justice vows to uphold judicial independence 'with every fibre of his being' * Man charged with trafficking 65kg of ganja * Harsher punishment needed for those convicted of corruption, says Jerlun MP * Social media user pan PAS Youth info chief over sexist remarks online * Cops looking for man who ran off with RM3mil in casino chips * Former cop fined RM20,000 in plea bargain over RM31,000 bribery case * Bodies of woman, three-year-old daughter recovered in waters off Pulau Ketam, say cops * Man jailed five years for threatening father with parang * 74-year-old man dies after suspected attack by son in Kuala Gris * No strong evidence found, probe into alleged child neglect at Johor daycare classified NFA, say cops * 'Protect the rakyat's money', Dr Wee urges govt on TNB tax dispute * Itemised billing mandatory for all consultation and medical charges, says govt Singapore * Cambodia-Thailand border clash a setback for Asean: Singapore FM * Morning commute disrupted as delays on Singapore MRT line persist after more than three hours * New 'drive-through' cargo centre at Changi Airport cuts processing time; will be test bed for T5 ops * Doctor hounded ex-girlfriend, threatened to share her intimate photos, abducted her off street * Lee Hsien Loong receives Australia's highest civilian honour for advancing bilateral ties * Air India to tap Singapore Airlines to bolster fleet upkeep after June crash: Sources * Jail, fine for content creator who used KrisFlyer miles from accounts he bought illegally * S$3bil money laundering case: Su Haijin, Wang Dehai stripped of Cypriot citizenship * Man arrested in Woodlands over possession of weapons, vapes and illegal cigarettes, drug offences * 'It's either my life or the dog's': NSF rescues lost dog that was hit by a car in Bedok, Singapore * Two workers in Singapore died after being hit by flying gas cylinders in separate incidents in 2025 * 19 drivers nabbed over illegal ride-hailing services in Singapore and across border with Malaysia Indonesia * Police detain former eFishery CEO who faked data * Penny-pinching consumers cast doubt on Indonesia's high growth * Indonesian ex-minister Thomas Lembong files ethics complaint against judges * No clear winner in US tariff policy among Asean countries * Hit by US tariffs, Indonesia plans to sell shrimp to China instead * Indonesia arrests two civil servants over terror links in Aceh Thailand * Thai Deputy Defence Minister: Cambodia's General Border Committee talks 'genuine' ahead of Thursday (Aug 7) conclusion * Suspended PM Paetongtarn submits defence in ethics case * Thailand's monitor lizards tipped as next big 'economic animal' in luxury leather * Acting Defence Minister outlines Thailand's eight conditions for GBC talks * Is August the turning point for the fate of 'Shinawatra father and daughter'? * Eda Ezrin, husband and four others freed from Thailand prison * Phumtham admits tighter scrutiny after arrest of Cambodian soldier suspected of espionage * Final hurdle cleared for Thailand's first law to protect ethnic groups' way of life * One arrested, 56 million baht in assets seized in Thailand's crackdown on online gambling ring Philippines * Malaysia, Philippines to strengthen strategic cooperation for Asean's future, says Anwar * Delhi, Manila ink security deals * Philippines to suspend rice imports for 60 days from September * Sara Duterte's office: No info on her whereabouts Vietnam * Vietnam at a crossroads, seeking fair and transparent land reform * Energy use soars as nation sweats * QuickCheck: Is there a mud-themed ball sport in Vietnam? * Vietnam and Egypt strengthen economic ties, eye bilateral FTA * Vietnam trade beats estimates as buyers race Trump tariffs * Vietnam's FDI grows 27.3% in seven months, signals investor confidence * Mekong Delta flooding higher than normal this year Myanmar * SEAMEO SPAFA inspects earthquake-damaged heritage sites in Myanmar * Myanmar's century-old cinema legacy flickers amid dark times * Flash floods kill six in Myanmar-China border town Cambodia * French backpacker found dead in canal * Thai Red Cross will not release report on captured Cambodian soldiers, citing 'safety concerns' * We don't carry guns, we carry hope: Army of philanthropists deploy to support displaced Cambodian villagers * Asean's quiet diplomacy helped avert escalation in Cambodia-Thailand border conflict: Sec-Gen Kao * Cambodian workers flock home from Thailand after clashes Laos * Laos hosts training on digital transformation for media * Laos eyes deal with United Arab Emirates to ease fuel shortage Brunei * More Bruneians stop smoking, engage in sports * Regional peace, stability crucial for Brunei Vision 2035 success: official Aseanplus * King meets Putin during landmark state visit * Thailand-Cambodia reach ceasefire consensus at secretariat talks, says Chief of Defence Force * PM hopes for end to border row * Fox beats quarterly estimates, boosts buyback by $5 billion * Exhibit 'paints' a picture of identity * George Town comes alive with colour and music * Police nab 120 activists linked to Imran Khan's party * Celebrating Indian cinema and its links with Malaysia * FBM KLCI tracks regional gains * September film fest features shows, tours in exploration of Taiping's charms * Nation marks pivotal anniversary * Sparks fly as festival barges catch fire * Authorities lift Beijing rain alert * 53,000 hospitalised in historic heat * Tok Mat: Disputed area should be called Laut Sulawesi * Wall St ends lower as investors weigh tariff impact * Oil prices fall on Opec+ output hikes * Factbox-The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki * Ringgit rises on soft US economic data * HK actor Moses Chan joins Aimee Chan & their kids for rare family trip in Canada * Bursa sees mild profit-taking after previous day's rally * Dollar drifts as investors await Fed governor replacement * India shifts to damage control after Trump ramps up threats * Australia's great barrier reef suffers record coral decline following mass bleaching * Outgoing Indonesian Consul in Tawau thankful for good support between Indonesia, Sabah * Monsoon peaks in south China, unleashing landslides and a surge in virus cases * Asian shares track Wall Street lower, dollar rangebound * Turning cancer cells from malignant to benign * South Korea's ex-First Lady quizzed in probe over bribe allegations * K-actor Jung Woo-sung reportedly registered marriage with non-celeb girlfriend * China girl with heart infection wakes up from coma when shown college acceptance letter * US charges Chinese nationals with Nvidia chips export breach * Musk vs. Modi: Inside the battle over India's internet censorship * Exclusive-Missed signals, lost deal: How India-US trade talks collapsed * Heavy rains, landslides hamper rescue efforts in northern Indian state, dozens missing * Strictly regulating AI could inhibit Australian economic growth: report * Hiroshima marks 80 years as US-Russia nuclear tensions rise * Heavy rains, landslides hamper rescue efforts in northern Indian state, dozens missing * FBM KLCI remains negative at midday in post-rally pullback * Malaysia to empower local firms amid US tariff hike, says Liew * 16 Indonesians deported after failed attempt to illegally enter Malaysia via transit route * AKPS foils attempt by 26 Bangladesh nationals to enter M'sia illegally * Missed signals, lost deal: How India-US trade talks collapsed * McDonald's China eyes 10,000 outlets * Necessary or excessive? K-pop security at airports sparks debate * Cathay Pacific warns of declining airfares and uncertain cargo outlook, shares fall 10% * Labubu craze takes over global culture * S. Korea to begin temporary visa waiver for Chinese tour groups in late September * Leaders of South Korea, Vietnam to meet next week amid trade woes, sources say * Asian markets cautious amid Fed uncertainty, mounting tariff pressures * India's security chief in Moscow after US tariff threats: media * Asean's quiet power on full display * Sri Lanka arrests Rajapaksa ex-minister for alleged corruption * Fuel prices Aug 7-13: RON95, RON97 petrol unchanged, diesel up three sen * India braces for hit to $64 billion US exports amid rising tensions with Washington * Pakistan starts deporting registered Afghan refugees, says UNHCR * India's Uttarakhand cloudburst: Everything was destroyed, says CM Dhami after Dharali visit, confirms 190 rescued * Actors Linda Chung and Raymond Lam reunite for joint appearance in phone commercial * Trump says Japan will import 'beautiful' Ford trucks * 'Mosquito control key to preventing chikungunya as vaccine not yet approved' * US, Japan secure top seeds position for Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown event; Thais will lead Asean's challenge * EU may have just deepened its reliance on the US, former Chinese envoy says * Rising star Yamashita's AIG Women's Open win highlights dominant era for Japan in women's golf * Trump order imposes additional 25% tariff on goods from India * South Korea to offer visa-free entry to Chinese tourists from late September * Rising hot stars Harissa Adlynn and Daniel Fong lead the way for Astro's hotly anticipated new drama 'Kerana Seorang Lelaki' * HK actor Bosco Wong says he's still single because of his mum: 'She likes chasing my girlfriends away'
Rakyat Post
3 hours ago
- Rakyat Post
Penang University Student's RM17,200 Vanishes In Mysterious Midnight Bank Transfers
Subscribe to our FREE A 20-year-old university student in Malaysia has gone public with claims that RM17,200 mysteriously disappeared from her digital bank account in the middle of the night while she was sleeping. Ng Jing Wen, from Butterworth, Penang, says she woke up on 17 July to discover that her account, which had contained nearly RM20,000 the night before, was down to just RM2,269.45. What she found in her transaction history left her stunned: six transfers had been made between 11:53 PM and 12:03 AM, all while she claims she was fast asleep in her bed. The transactions happened in two phases. First, money was moved from three different savings 'pockets' within her account into her main account – RM7,783.02, RM5,179.11, and RM4,830.77. Then, minutes later, three separate transfers totalling RM17,200 were sent to someone named Tan Xing Yee at a different bank – Ng says she's never heard of this person. 'I live alone,' she wrote in a There was no one else in my house, and there were no signs of anyone breaking in or touching my phone. (Pix: Facebook/Jing Wen) Bank Cites Security Protocols in Response When Ng contacted her bank the next morning, they were supportive, and she proceeded to file a police report and contact the bank to freeze the account. After a 10-day investigation, the bank reported that the funds had already been moved and could not be recovered. The bank explained that their security protocols require facial recognition and must be performed on the account holder's device, leading them to conclude the transactions were likely authorised. So, how was a RM15,000 transfer possible just 10 minutes after the limit was supposedly changed? 'I reasonably suspect this might be due to a system loophole or internal operational error,' she wrote, questioning whether the bank's security measures worked as advertised. The student also noted she was initially told the limit had been changed months earlier, in March. She later received information suggesting it occurred ten minutes before the transfers, prompting her to seek clarification on the timeline. A Student's Nightmare For a university student, RM17,200 represents a significant sum – money that might have been saved over years or intended for education expenses. The financial impact is compounded by the emotional toll of being treated as a suspect rather than a victim. As a 20-year-old university student, RM17,200 is a huge amount for me. This incident has left me anxious and deeply affected. When Ng filed her police report, she stated that the officers indicated this looked less like a typical scam and more like a hacking incident, since she hadn't clicked on any suspicious links or fallen for any tricks. Seeking further resolution, Ng decided to share her experience publicly. Her Facebook post, which included screenshots of transaction records, has drawn attention from many Malaysians concerned about digital banking security. Bank Pledges Full Investigation Meanwhile, when contacted by TRP, the bank said they empathise with her situation and are doing what they can to help. They confirmed they are currently conducting a thorough investigation into the issue and are prepared to support and share their findings with the authorities. The bank emphasised its strict zero-tolerance policy towards any form of fraudulent activity or intent, or breaches of the law. As a digital bank, they stated that they regularly review their safety, security, and risk controls to ensure that their operations and processes continue to uphold the trust placed in them by their customers and stakeholders. READ MORE : READ MORE: READ MORE : Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
IGP: Stop circulating unverified content on Zara Qairina's murder
KUALA LUMPUR: Police have warned the public against spreading inaccurate information and images related to the Zara Qairina case on social media. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohd Khalid Ismail said such actions could jeopardise the ongoing investigation and deny justice to those involved. "The police have detected the circulation of false claims and photographs of a child allegedly linked to the case, which have been uploaded and shared by certain individuals. "The information being shared is inaccurate and has the potential to mislead the public. "Such actions can not only compromise the ongoing investigation but also jeopardise justice for all parties involved," he said in a statement. Khalid reminded the public that such acts are offences under Section 15 of the Child Act 2001, which prohibits the disclosure of information on the identity, address, school name, and photographs of children involved; Section 203A of the Penal Code for disclosure of information; and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for improper use of network facilities or network services. He said all investigation processes, including the post-mortem, were being carried out in accordance with existing procedures and legal provisions. He said that compliance with the law was fundamental to the nation's peace and wellbeing, warning that any violations would be met with stern action. Earlier, the Attorney-General's Chambers (A-GC) called on the public to stop circulating unverified information, including images of children allegedly linked to the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir. It has returned the full preliminary investigation report on the death of Zara to the police. Previously, it was reported that Zara, a Form 1 student, was found unconscious on the ground level of SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha's hostel early on July 16. She was declared dead at Queen Elizabeth I Hospital in Kota Kinabalu the next day. The death of the teenager has sparked heated debate online after allegations of bullying and supposed failures in the early stages of the investigation, including the lack of a post-mortem examination before she was buried. On Aug 1, Zara's family requested an inquest to be held to determine whether any criminal elements were involved in her death. They had, among other requests, called for Zara's body to be exhumed. Previously, Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail said police had submitted the preliminary investigation paper on Zara Qairina's death to the A-GC. However, earlier today, Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar said the A-GC had returned the investigation paper to police yesterday for further action to be taken.
