KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 13): The Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) on Wednesday ordered an inquest into the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir, following a review of the investigation report submitted by the Royal Malaysian Police.
The inquest, to be held under Subsection 339(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code, will determine the cause and circumstances of death, including whether criminal elements were involved, according to the AGC statement. Proceedings will take place at the Coroner’s Court, which is tasked with independently examining unexplained or suspicious deaths, in compliance with all applicable legal provisions.
“The process will be carried out independently and transparently,” the statement read.
Zara Qairina, a Form One student at SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha in Papar, was found unconscious near her school dormitory at 4am on July 16, believed to have fallen from the third floor. She was confirmed dead at Queen Elizabeth I Hospital in Kota Kinabalu the next day and was buried on July 18 without an autopsy.
Her family later lodged a police report and submitted a 44-second audio recording of a conversation between Zara and her mother, raising doubts about whether the fall was accidental. They requested an exhumation for a forensic post-mortem, which the AGC approved on Aug 8.
Over the weekend, her body was exhumed from the Tanjung Ubi Muslim Cemetery in Kampung Mesapol, Sipitang, and taken to Queen Elizabeth I Hospital for examination. She was buried again at the same cemetery early Monday morning.
The case has raised public concern, with members of Parliament from all sides demanding a transparent investigation. Many also offered condolences to Zara Qairina’s family. Her tragic death went viral, with widespread claims on social media that she was a bullying victim.
Her death prompted the Ministry of Education to order safety audits at all schools, including full boarding schools and daily hostels, to ensure compliance with safety procedures. The audits will be completed and reported to top management within three months.The current bullying complaint system will also be reformed.
A special nine-member task force from Bukit Aman’s Criminal Investigation Department will now take over the investigation into her death.