Justice for 13-YO Zara Qairina – Demand a Transparent Inquest and School Safety Reform
Justice for 13-YO Zara Qairina – Demand a Transparent Inquest and School Safety Reform
The Issue
A child died in a Sabah school hostel under troubling circumstances. Her family deserves the truth — and our children deserve safety.
Justice for Zara Qairina Mahathir: Demand Truth, Transparency, and Reform in School Safety
To:
YAB Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim
Minister of Education, Fadhlina Sidek
Attorney General’s Chambers of Malaysia
Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Razarudin Husain
The Story
On 16 July 2025, around 3 am, 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir, a Form One student at SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha in Papar, Sabah, was discovered unconscious in a drain beside her hostel, apparently after falling from the third floor. She was rushed to Queen Elizabeth I Hospital in Kota Kinabalu but tragically passed away at 1 pm on 17 July 2025. Her body was buried that same day, without a post-mortem examination .
On 30–31 July 2025, her mother, Noraidah Lamat, filed additional reports demanding Zara’s exhumation after noticing bruises and citing a voice recording in which Zara described harassment by senior students.
By 2 August 2025, the police investigation was officially completed, with statements from approximately 60 individuals submitted to the Attorney General’s Chambers. The AGC, by 6–7 August 2025, ordered a further probe, instructing police to compile additional evidence.
On 9 August 2025, the Attorney General ordered Zara’s grave exhumed at Tanjung Ubi Muslim Cemetery in Sipitang; the exhumation began at 5:30 pm and concluded by 7:15 pm, with her remains taken to Queen Elizabeth I Hospital.
On 10 August 2025, the post-mortem—conducted by four pathologists, including Dr Jessie Hiu and Dr Khairul Anuar—began at around 10:55 am and lasted approximately eight hours, concluding at about 7:30 pm. The body was subsequently reburied at Tanjung Ubi Cemetery. The family’s lawyer noted the findings are confidential, and release will require an inquest.
Our Demands
We, the undersigned, call for:
- A Transparent Public Inquest, per Section 339 of the Criminal Procedure Code, to uncover the full circumstances of Zara’s death.
- Full Disclosure to Zara’s family of all evidence—CCTV, witness statements, autopsy report, forensic results.
- Independent Forensic Review, involving qualified pathologists, to validate findings and ensure credibility.
- Mandatory Reforms in Boarding Schools, including:
- Immediate reporting & investigation of serious student injuries or deaths.
- Mandatory post-mortems for unexplained student deaths.
- Stronger dorm supervision and anti-bullying enforcement.
- Anonymous, accessible channels for students to report abuse.
Why This Matters
This tragedy is not just Zara’s; it could be any child’s. Schools must be havens for learning—not places of danger. Every parent deserves assurance that their child is safe, and every child deserves protection.
Our Commitment
We stand with Zara’s family. We won’t let this fade. We demand truth, justice, and reform—for Zara, for our children, and for every child in Malaysia.
Sign if you believe in truth, transparency, and safe schools.
Share widely—Zara’s story must be heard.
#JusticeForZara #AnakKitaSemua #SafeSchoolsMY
68
The Issue
A child died in a Sabah school hostel under troubling circumstances. Her family deserves the truth — and our children deserve safety.
Justice for Zara Qairina Mahathir: Demand Truth, Transparency, and Reform in School Safety
To:
YAB Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim
Minister of Education, Fadhlina Sidek
Attorney General’s Chambers of Malaysia
Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Razarudin Husain
The Story
On 16 July 2025, around 3 am, 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir, a Form One student at SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha in Papar, Sabah, was discovered unconscious in a drain beside her hostel, apparently after falling from the third floor. She was rushed to Queen Elizabeth I Hospital in Kota Kinabalu but tragically passed away at 1 pm on 17 July 2025. Her body was buried that same day, without a post-mortem examination .
On 30–31 July 2025, her mother, Noraidah Lamat, filed additional reports demanding Zara’s exhumation after noticing bruises and citing a voice recording in which Zara described harassment by senior students.
By 2 August 2025, the police investigation was officially completed, with statements from approximately 60 individuals submitted to the Attorney General’s Chambers. The AGC, by 6–7 August 2025, ordered a further probe, instructing police to compile additional evidence.
On 9 August 2025, the Attorney General ordered Zara’s grave exhumed at Tanjung Ubi Muslim Cemetery in Sipitang; the exhumation began at 5:30 pm and concluded by 7:15 pm, with her remains taken to Queen Elizabeth I Hospital.
On 10 August 2025, the post-mortem—conducted by four pathologists, including Dr Jessie Hiu and Dr Khairul Anuar—began at around 10:55 am and lasted approximately eight hours, concluding at about 7:30 pm. The body was subsequently reburied at Tanjung Ubi Cemetery. The family’s lawyer noted the findings are confidential, and release will require an inquest.
Our Demands
We, the undersigned, call for:
- A Transparent Public Inquest, per Section 339 of the Criminal Procedure Code, to uncover the full circumstances of Zara’s death.
- Full Disclosure to Zara’s family of all evidence—CCTV, witness statements, autopsy report, forensic results.
- Independent Forensic Review, involving qualified pathologists, to validate findings and ensure credibility.
- Mandatory Reforms in Boarding Schools, including:
- Immediate reporting & investigation of serious student injuries or deaths.
- Mandatory post-mortems for unexplained student deaths.
- Stronger dorm supervision and anti-bullying enforcement.
- Anonymous, accessible channels for students to report abuse.
Why This Matters
This tragedy is not just Zara’s; it could be any child’s. Schools must be havens for learning—not places of danger. Every parent deserves assurance that their child is safe, and every child deserves protection.
Our Commitment
We stand with Zara’s family. We won’t let this fade. We demand truth, justice, and reform—for Zara, for our children, and for every child in Malaysia.
Sign if you believe in truth, transparency, and safe schools.
Share widely—Zara’s story must be heard.
#JusticeForZara #AnakKitaSemua #SafeSchoolsMY
68
Petition created on 10 August 2025