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New Straits Times
12-08-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
'Lives are not political tools': Penang Keadilan Youth condemns politicisation of Zara's death
GEORGE TOWN: Penang PKR Youth has strongly condemned any attempts to politicise the tragic death of Zara Qairina Mahathir, emphasising that human lives are not political tools and that such actions are immoral. It urged all parties to refrain from exploiting the tragedy for political gain. "Any efforts to turn this tragedy into a political issue are wholly immoral," it said in a statement, stressing the importance of respecting the victim's family and focusing on justice. Penang PKR Youth expressed its deepest condolences to Zara's family and fully supported the calls from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail to place full trust in the police to conduct a transparent, thorough and fair investigation into the case. "Malaysia is a nation governed by the rule of law. "No individual, regardless of rank, status or position, will be exempt from legal action if proven guilty," it added. It is standing firmly with Zara's family and all Malaysians seeking justice, praying that the late victim's soul be blessed and placed among the righteous. It was reported that the move by the federal police to take over the investigation into Zara's death was among four requests made by her family to the Attorney-General's Chambers (A-GC). The family's lawyers, Shahlan Jufri, Rizwandean M. Borhan and Mohd Luqman Syazwan Zabidi, said the requests, which included the appointment of experienced investigating officers from federal police to handle the case, were outlined in a letter to the A-GC dated Aug 5. Zara, a Form One student at a secondary school in Papar, Sabah, was reported to have fallen from the third floor of a dormitory. She was found unconscious in a drain around 4am on July 16 and later died while receiving treatment at Queen Elizabeth I Hospital in Kota Kinabalu.
New Straits Times
11-08-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
NST Leader: Desecration of Jalur Gemilang
To fly the Jalur Gemilang upside down is an insult to the dignity of our beloved nation, but a hardware store owner in Kepala Batas, Penang, has done exactly that. And to do that just weeks before the country celebrates its National Day is like stabbing the very heart of the nation. Insult a man's dignity, he may forgive you. But insult the dignity of the nation, which the Jalur Gemilang is a symbol of, he will neither forgive you nor forget the disrespectful act. So will not the nation. The proof of this is the numerous police reports lodged around the country by loyal Malaysians and statements issued by national leaders. Disturbed as he was, National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang took to X, urging the police to take firm action against the offender, stressing the need for the action to serve as a lesson to all. Flying the flag correctly is every citizen's responsibility as a sign of respect and love for the country, Bernama quoted him as saying. He is right. To fly the Jalur Gemilang incorrectly is to seek to blemish the sovereignty, dignity and unity of the nation. Such an abhorrent act mustn't be tolerated. Strongly worded condemnation was also issued by Penang PKR Youth chief Muhammad Zakwan Mustafa Kamal in a statement on Saturday. He said the act of flying the Jalur Gemilang upside down was disrespectful, irresponsible, and an insult to the dignity of the nation. He said if the act was proven to be deliberate, no compromise should be shown. We say the same, too. Zakwan also called on the hardware store owner to issue a public apology to all Malaysians. As this Leader goes to press, no such apology has been issued. The police are saying that there is a case for prosecution. The hardware shop owner, who was detained on Sunday and released on police bail later, is being investigated under Section 5 of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act 1963, Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955 and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. If there is a case for prosecution, it is high time the authorities bring to bear the full brunt of the law on him to show how serious an insult to the dignity of the nation is. There have been far too many cases in the past, many of the culprits feigning ignorance. Utter incredulity must be the response. Even in the past, it wasn't the act of one who hadn't come of age. Or the act of one who suffered from some disease of the mind. Though the past acts showed clear disrespect for the dignity of the nation, we chose to adopt a softly, softly approach. The Kepala Batas incident proves to the authorities that such an approach was wrong. Nay it might have even encouraged it. If what the police investigation is saying is right, then the full brunt of the law must be brought to bear on him. Even ordinary crime demands punishment. Insulting the symbol of the dignity of a nation is no ordinary crime. As severe as it is, so must the punishment be.
