Public urged to stop speculating on Zara Qairina's death
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun said the incident was currently under investigation.
"I urge members of the public to remain calm and not speculate while awaiting the outcome of the investigations.
"Our investigation is conducted thoroughly and transparently," he said in a brief statement issued here Monday (July 28).
The victim, Zara Qairina Mahathir, 13, died a day after she allegedly fell from the third floor of the school's dormitory building on July 16. She died at the hospital the next day.
Her death had sparked various allegations, including that she was a victim of bullying at the school.
The Education Ministry has left the matter for police investigation amid political and community calls for a full investigation into the events that led to her death.
Social media was abuzz with calls for thorough investigations to establish the truth, with the solidarity #JusticeForZara hashtag going viral.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
3 hours ago
- Malay Mail
‘I need to know the truth': Zara Qairina's grave to be exhumed as grieving mother seeks first autopsy in daughter's death
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1 — The grave of a 13-year-old Sabah schoolgirl is set to be exhumed for a post-mortem, two weeks after she died following a fall from a third-floor school hostel — a move initiated by her mother, who says she was never advised to request an autopsy at the time of burial. Zara Qairina Mahathir, a Form One student at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama (SMKA) Tun Datu Mustapha in Papar, Sabah, died on July 17 after being found critically injured beneath her boarding school dormitory in the early hours of the previous day. She was buried that night without a post-mortem. Now, her mother, Noraidah Lamat, 45, says she has instructed two lawyers to initiate legal steps to exhume her daughter's grave so that an autopsy can be conducted — the first since her death. 'I want the questions that have been circling in my mind for the past 14 days about the real cause of Zara Qairina's death to be answered,' she told Berita Harian. 'So I have taken steps to have her grave reopened in order to carry out a post-mortem.' Noraidah said she was in deep shock when her daughter died and agreed to proceed with the burial, unaware that an autopsy could or should have been requested. 'No one advised me to ask for one,' she said, adding that her grief clouded her ability to think clearly at the time. The decision comes amid allegations of bullying at the school. Noraidah said her daughter had previously reported being sexually harassed by a fellow student — a claim she said was addressed by school counsellors — and denied knowing whether bullying played a role in Zara's death. 'There are many stories being spread about what happened to my daughter. They are painful to hear and not from me,' she told Berita Harian. 'I want everyone to stop speculating.' Sabah Police Commissioner Jauteh Dikun said the case is still under investigation and nearing completion, with about 60 witnesses, including students, staff and parents, having had their statements recorded. Zara was discovered around 3am on July 16 in critical condition beneath the hostel block. She was taken to Queen Elizabeth I Hospital in Kota Kinabalu, where she died the next day. Initial reports suggested she had fallen from the third floor. Noraidah said she and her husband rushed to the hospital after being informed of the fall by a school warden. 'At the emergency ward lobby, I was shocked to see so many officials — police, school administrators,' she recalled. She described Zara's face as uninjured when she saw her. 'The doctor and counsellor told me even if she survived, she would never be the same. Her brain was already damaged. I couldn't fully grasp what they were saying,' she was quoted as saying. Police have not ruled out foul play and say the case has been referred to federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman for further analysis. Whatever the outcome of the post-mortem and investigation, Noraidah said, she is prepared to accept it — as long as it brings clarity. 'The pain will never go away,' she said. 'But I need to know the truth.'
Daily Express
5 hours ago
- Daily Express
Sabah Education Department refutes transfer claims
Published on: Friday, August 01, 2025 Published on: Fri, Aug 01, 2025 By: Sherell Jeffrey, Hayati Dzulkifli Text Size: 'Not true, it is more towards perception rather than fact,' Raisin told Daily Express. Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Education Director Datuk Raisin Saidin has refuted social media claims that three female students believed implicated in the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir have been transferred to other schools. 'Not true, it is more towards perception rather than fact,' he told Daily Express, Thursday. However, he did not say whether the three are still attending classes at Sekolah Agama Tun Mustapha in Kinarut, or have been suspended. Investigations into the death of the Form One student from Sipitang is ongoing. The victim was believed to have fallen from the third floor the girl's dormitory on July 16, where she was reported to have been found unconscious in a drain near the premises around 3am. She was taken to Queen Elizabeth I Hospital with serious internal injuries, broken limbs and was later declared brain-dead. Her life support was withdrawn on July 17 and she was subsequently buried in her hometown at Kampung Kalamauh Mesapol, Sipitang. Police investigation has involved questioning about 60 individuals, including three female students believed connected to the case. Bullying has not been ruled out as a factor in her death. The Sabah Education Director and Education Minister have assured the public of transparent and impartial investigations. * 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
The Star
5 hours ago
- The Star
‘Governor's family not involved in student's death'
KOTA KINABALU: Istana Seri Kinabalu has denied claims that the state governor's family was involved in the recent death of Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir at SMA Tun Datu Mustapha in Papar. In a statement, Istana Seri Kinabalu denied the claims circulating on various social media platforms, calling them baseless, irresponsible and defamatory to the Head of State's family. The statement warned the public against spreading unverified and slanderous information which could harm reputations. It also reminded the public that sharing false information may be subject to legal action under existing laws, including the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. 'Any updates related to the investigation should be referred to the Royal Malaysia Police or the Ministry of Education to avoid confusion and misunderstanding among the public,' the statement read. Meanwhile, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun said the police have recorded the statements of 61 people, including students and teachers, in connection with the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina. He said they were also investigating claims of bullying, which could have caused the student's death. 'The investigations will take time as everything has to be done thoroughly, professionally, sensitively and properly with the help of counsellors. 'We are exploring all angles, including the circumstances leading to the girl's fall from her hostel building at SMA Tun Datu Mustafa in Papar on July 16,' he told reporters after the Sabah Warriors' Day celebration yesterday. He said the investigations were being conducted carefully as traumatised students were involved. However, he added, allegations that those implicated in this case included children of a state assemblyman and VVIPs, including himself, were unfounded. Meanwhile, Sabah Law Society (SLS) president Datuk Mohamed Nazim Maduarin said the incident had raised concerns surrounding school safety as Zara Qairina's death did not occur in a vacuum. 'It has raised questions of school safety, student welfare and institutional response. 'It has also led the public to wonder whether the systems meant to protect children are functioning as they should,' he said in a statement. Mohamed Nazim said the association is aware that the family has appointed legal counsel, and that they fully respect their right to pursue justice through lawful means. 'We are also monitoring the progress of this case closely and will continue to do so. 'Our stand is clear: This case must not be swept under the rug and it must not be forgotten,' he added. SLS extended its condolences to the family of Zara Qairina, who died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital here a day after she was found unconscious in a drain at her school hostel.
