Hajiji urges public to respect Zara Qairina death investigation
He emphasised the importance of avoiding speculation and relying only on credible sources for updates.
'The state government extends its sympathies to the family of the deceased. However, it is important that the public refrain from speculating. Let the legal process proceed as it should,' he said.
Hajiji spoke after attending the Bajau Samah Cultural Festival launch at Lok Batik.
The event was officiated by Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Musa Aman, accompanied by his wife, Toh Puan Faridah Tussin.
Tourism, Arts and Culture deputy minister Datuk Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan was also present.
The Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) confirmed Zara Qairina's body would be exhumed for further investigation.
The AGC stressed the need for a thorough probe by the Royal Malaysia Police.
On Monday, the teenager's body was exhumed from Tanjung Ubi Muslim Cemetery in Kampung Mesapol, Sipitang.
It was then taken to Queen Elizabeth I Hospital for an autopsy.
Zara Qairina was found unconscious in a drain near a religious school hostel in Papar on July 16.
She was pronounced dead at the hospital on July 17. - Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
21 minutes ago
- The Star
Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Friday (Aug 15, 2025)
Malaysia: * Anwar calls for united front against national security, unity threats, including bullying * Armed Forces BIPs scheme expanded to cover more ranks, says Anwar * Nurul Izzah urges swift, stern action over attack on Rafizi's son * Najib betrayed public's trust, SRC International wants RM42mil back, says counsel * Financial incentives for civil servants pursuing higher education at own expense, says PM * Cops remind participants of Zara solidarity rally in KL to adhere to all instructions * Jakim denies viral video claims, says imported meats comply with Malaysian, Australian standards * Akmal under investigation for posting alleged hate content, say cops * MACC to investigate online media company over smuggling link * Sabah Law Society welcomes AGC decision for Zara Qairina inquest * Man sets woman, self on fire at Simpang Renggam toll plaza * Port Dickson shellfish still not safe to eat, third sampling next week * Steady 2Q25 GDP growth signals domestic resilience, momentum could continue in 2H * Don't take matters into your own hands, AGC urges public over flag issue * Bank Negara maintains 2025 GDP forecast at 4-4.8% amid tariff talks uncertainty * Bursa Malaysia poised for gains after stronger-than-expected GDP growth in 2Q * Ringgit strengthens 5.1% against US$ in 2Q25 - Bank Negara / Robust domestic demand drives 4.4% GDP growth in 2Q High school students hold flowers for a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, at the Ereveld Pandu cemetery where Dutch soldiers who died in the war are buried in Bandung, West Java, on Friday, August 15, 2025. -- Photo by TImur Matahari / AFP Singapore: * Pesona Anggerik at Gardens by the Bay marks 60 years of Malaysia-Singapore ties * Ong Beng Seng fined S$30,000 for abetting former Singapore minister Iswaran in obstructing course of justice * Sun Haiyan, ex-China ambassador to Singapore, detained for questioning: Sources * Trio accused of offences including maid abuse walk free after charges compounded * Singapore Tourism Board and top entertainment company Blast sign multi-year deal to host premier esports arena events * No service on Singapore's Sengkang-Punggol LRT line due to power fault * Singaporean actress Rebecca Lim says husband brought her peace, security she's never had * JPJ seizes four Singapore-registered vehicles for illegal e-hailing in Johor Indonesia: * Indonesia's 2026 budget is designed to make the country strong, President Prabowo says * More than 360 hit by food poisoning after eating free school meal in Central Java * Indonesian roof tilers flex muscles to keep local industry alive * Indonesia to crack down on illegal exploitation of resources, president says * Craft exporters from Yogyakarta's special region target Europe after US tariffs * Military takes lead on food security - nation has set up 100 army battalions to help with agriculture projects KUALA LUMPUR, Friday, Aug 15: Chairman of the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia, Datuk Prof Dr Mohd Faiz Abdullah, and Thailand's Ambassador to Malaysia, Lada Phumas (left), shake hands during the Thailand-Malaysia Strategic Dialogue at ISIS Malaysia today. -- Photo: Bernama Thailand: * Malaysia's role in Thai-Cambodia border talks show depth of bilateral trust, says Thai Ambassador * Malaysian tourists with burn injuries in Bangkok face long recovery and mounting expenses * Thai princess reported to suffer from 'severe' blood infection * Thailand reaffirms treaty pledge, urges Cambodia to stop using mines * Body of Thai soldier who shot two civilians in Surin found; Combat stress cited as possible factor * Thai soldier flees Surin camp, shoots civilians in Kap Choeng; two injured Philippines: * China accuses Philippine vessels of 'dangerous manoeuvres' after its own ships collided * Australian and Philippine forces launch largest military exercises near disputed South China Sea * Collision between Chinese ships expected to escalate tension in South China Sea * Online cockfighting thrives in Philippines despite ban and murders * Filipino seafarer loses job over video of him and wife kissing three-year-old son Farmers carry sun-dried bags of rice in Los Palacios, Pinar del Rio province, Cuba, on May 29, 2025. The Cuban government gave land to a private Vietnamese company for rice production in the face of the lack of local productive varieties and inputs to address the lack of this cereal on the island. The national average rice yield is 1.6 tons per hectare, and the first fields harvested within this plan had a yield exceeding six tons per hectare. -- Photo by Adalberto ROQUE / AFP Vietnam: * Plastic pollution treaty talks in Geneva end without an agreement * Action getting fast and furious as the Asean women's football championships fiesta in Vietnam moves into the knock-out rounds * VinFast to spin off assets in US$1.5bil deal with founder * Heavy rain, flash flood risks across 13 Vietnam provinces; strong winds at sea * Pioneering heart, lung transplant marks medical milestone in Vietnam Myanmar: * Chinese and Asean experts gather to explore the region's digital future * Foreign ministers of China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand hold informal meeting in Kunming * Desperate Myanmar villagers scavenge for food as hunger bites * World's first humanoid robot games begin in China Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro, (centre) after attending a trade and investment conference at a hotel in Pasay, Philippines. -- AP Photo/Aaron Favila Cambodia: * China urges Cambodia and Thailand to restore peace at the border * Malaysia-led observer team checks on security along Thai-Cambodian border * Durian diplomacy: China welcomes Cambodia's first direct air shipments of fruit * Cambodia welcomes Chinese support for mine clearance in border areas Laos: * Vietnam willing to share experience in state-owned enterprises reform with Laos * China, Lao FMs meet in Beijing, pledge stronger ties * Laos, Philippines agree to enhance ties as they mark 70 years of relations Brunei: * Brunei expo unveils future of technology * Brunei economy maintains recovery amid global uncertainty Assam Police dog squads take part in a parade during the country's Independence Day celebrations in Guwahati, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. -AP Photo/Anupam Nath AseanPlus: * Rajnikanth is back with a bang with 'Coolie' and hand it to the superstar to lift the Tamil movie-world out of its doldrums * Almost 100 Bangladeshis denied entry at KLIA, says border control agency * KLIA Aerotrain to close overnight for two weeks starting Aug 18 to optimise system * Malaysia: Local actor Parvin Nair Surendran, 33, killed in highway crash, family seeks dashcam footage * 72YO retired Malaysian engineer repairs toys and gives them back to charity * Warships make their way into Penang for Asean multilateral naval exercise * Kuala Lumpur to host regional underground construction gathering * Foreigners in JB charged with supporting terrorist group * Justin Trudeau among prominent speakers at sustainability forum in Kuching * Leo XIV calls for worldwide peace on his 100th day as pope * Chinese military 'warns off' US destroyer from vicinity of Scarborough Shoal * Local actress Anna Jobling expresses gratitude to mum on 25th birthday amid ongoing conflict * Anna Jobling's mother claims she was being treated 'like a stray dog', upset after receiving injunction order * A rickshaw driver and his dog are winning hearts in Nepal's Kathmandu * Japan posts unexpectedly strong GDP, helped by resilient exports * China's July factory output, retail sales growth slump in blow to economic momentum * China rolls out new visa type to draw young science and tech talent * Japan minister joins crowds at controversial shrine to mark 80 years since world war defeat * Chinese man spends US$120,000 on 300-year gym membership, then owner vanishes * Shaolin's 'CEO monk' scandal may prompt overhaul of how temples are run in China * Trio arrested for allegedly stealing HK$1 million from Hong Kong pet company * South Korea's Lee to end some military activity on border with North Korea * Gen Z women embrace an ancient code written for them * On India's Independence Day, Modi vows to punish Pakistan for future attacks * Indian rescuers scour debris after 60 killed in flood, scores of people are also missing * Tropical storm disrupts travel, courts and schools in China * Citing China's 'significant steps', Trump extends US tariff truce * Japan's PM Ishiba mentions wartime 'regret', toeing right-wing line * Why are there more fights on Hong Kong flights? Conditions, social media blamed * Kim's sister denies propaganda loudspeaker removal, rebuffs South overtures * 80 years on from WWII, China's interests lie in a peaceful Asia-Pacific: Mitter * Zebra stripes, polka dots: The youthful spirit of Copenhagen Fashion Week * Athletics - Fresh off another world record, Duplantis ready to push boundaries again * Olympics - LA28 to allow venue naming rights in first for Olympics; Comcast, Honda debut deals * Badminton - New challenges await Pearly-Thinaah in quest for historic podium spot
New Straits Times
21 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
NST Leader: No end to bullying
BULLYING is, sadly, a universal phenomenon as old as the dawn of history. It's why Neanderthals vanished 40,000 to 45,000 years ago, harried out of existence by the more aggressive Homo sapiens. From there on, from tribal clashes of nomads to hunter gatherers to the great civilisations of antiquity, all were founded on invasions and wars — prime bullying methods. Brutalising others without consequences is why international conflicts, like what is unfolding in Palestine and Ukraine, continue without end. In the modern day, bullying has entered the online and psychological realms through cyberbullying. It has evolved from the physical menace in schools, dormitories, even the office. Victims can be driven to retaliate with lethal weapons. In America, they fire assault rifles at their tormentors. Bullying in Malaysia remains serious among schoolchildren and university students. A study by a non-governmental organisation found that 38 per cent of respondents report having been in a bullying situation during their school years as victims, bullies or both, of physical, verbal and cyber types. The bullied comprise 21.4 per cent while 9.4 per cent were actual bullies while 7.2 per cent were both victims and perpetrators. Victims suffer from depression and are vulnerable to self-harm. The death of Zara Qairina Mahathir, a Form One student from Papar, Sabah, is yet another tragic statistic. Found unconscious outside her dormitory building, Zara Qairina is suspected to have fallen from the third floor. She was pronounced dead at the hospital and buried a day later. The ensuing national furore led to her exhumation and a forensic probe. Police have found signs of physical bullying. But this time, police are empowered under the Penal Code to arrest Zara Qairina's tormentors and haul them to justice. What went wrong here? How do we prevent such incidents? Reinforcing awareness, preventive programmes and school mental health support are ongoing initiatives. In government hospitals, signs are everywhere warning the public to not harangue medical staff.
Daily Express
an hour ago
- Daily Express
Thousands gather in Kota Kinabalu to demand justice for Zara
Published on: Friday, August 15, 2025 Published on: Fri, Aug 15, 2025 By: Jonathan Nicholas Text Size: Liew standing among the crowd at the gathering. - Pic by Jonathan Nicholas | Daily Express KOTA KINABALU: More than 10,000 people dressed in black gathered at Padang Merdeka on Friday night to call for justice for 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir, whose death in a school hostel remains under investigation. The gathering, which began at 7.50pm, opened with the Sabah state anthem and a prayer before the crowd chanted 'Tangkap Penjenayah' (Arrest the Criminals) in unison. People from all walks of life attended the event, showing unity in their grief and determination to seek answers. Political leaders from both sides of the divide were present, reflecting the broad support for the call to end bullying and protect children. Among them was Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew, who attended with volunteers and representatives from local non-governmental organisations. She stressed the need for reforms to ensure that tragedies like Zara's death do not recur, highlighting the importance of a safe environment for students, especially in boarding schools. Christina also called for a proactive approach in tackling bullying, with early intervention to identify risks before they escalate into life-threatening situations. She emphasised that the issue extended beyond schools, noting that bullying has affected people in workplaces and other settings across the country. Throughout the night, the crowd chanted 'We Are All Zara' as a reminder that her memory fuels the push for change and that no other child should endure the same fate. The atmosphere was one of solidarity, with attendees sharing the grief of Zara's mother, Noraidah Lamat, and pledging to continue the fight for justice. * 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
