SEVERAL gatherings to demand justice for 13-year-old Zara Qairina, whose death has sparked widespread public grief, have been planned in towns across Sabah.
The first candlelight vigil was held on Sunday evening at Lintasan Deasoka in the state capital. Similar events are now expected to take place in Sandakan, Tawau, Lahad Datu, and Sipitang in the coming days.
Roughly 300 people braved the rain to attend the Justice for Zara vigil at Gaya Street on Sunday night.
The event was organised by Suara Mahasiswa UMS — the same student group behind several peaceful rallies in Kota Kinabalu — together with Gerakan Anak Muda Pantai Timur (GEMPUR).
Zara was found unconscious in her school dormitory on July 16 and was later pronounced dead at Queen Elizabeth I Hospital the following day.
Authorities have yet to fully determine the circumstances surrounding her death. Her family believes bullying may have played a role.
Their lawyers have criticised the police investigation as lacking in scope and are now urging the Attorney General’s Chambers to convene a formal inquest.
More vigils planned across Sabah
In Sandakan, organisers have announced a vigil to be held at the Harbour Mall esplanade on Friday evening, while in Tawau, youth activists are planning a similar gathering at the Chester Market roundabout on the same night.
Both events are scheduled to begin at 8pm and are expected to draw large crowds.
In Sipitang, a separate gathering is set for Sunday afternoon at the town’s esplanade.
Organisers are calling it a “solidariti aman”, or peaceful solidarity, and are encouraging participants to dress in white as a symbol of mourning.
Lahad Datu is also expected to host a vigil, with final details being shared through local community networks.
The rise in these vigils reflects growing public frustration over how the case is being handled and a broader dissatisfaction with the way bullying is addressed in Malaysian schools.
Many Sabahans have turned to social media to call for systemic reform and stronger protections for students.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has acknowledged the case. Zara’s family and their legal team say much more needs to be done to ensure accountability and transparency.
Lawyers call out viral rumours and disinformation
On Wednesday, Zara’s mother’s legal team responded to widespread online speculation about her death, including viral claims that she had been placed in a washing machine.
Lawyers Hamid Ismail and Shahlan Jufri called the rumour “pure speculation” and urged those making such allegations to bring any information they may have to the police — not to social media.
They also rejected as baseless a widely shared timeline claiming Zara was only brought to the hospital at 8am on the day she died.
“Speculation only adds to our client’s stress and grief,” they said, appealing for public empathy as the family waits for the investigation to run its course.
Reminders on legal boundaries of online sharing
The lawyers also reminded the public that sharing photos of school students with derogatory captions may constitute an offence under the Child Act and the Communications and Multimedia Act.
They further warned that circulating student name lists containing personal details could breach Malaysia’s data protection laws.
Push for inquest and second autopsy
Zara’s family has formally requested the Attorney General’s Chambers to direct police to assign a more experienced investigator from Bukit Aman, exhume Zara’s remains for a second post-mortem, and initiate an inquest to determine whether criminal elements were involved in her death.
The AGC has since returned the initial investigation report to the police with instructions to address several outstanding matters.
Lawyers representing the family said this move appears consistent with their earlier requests.
Zara’s mother, Noraidah Lamat, has also handed over her mobile phone to the authorities. The device contains audio recordings of phone conversations between her and Zara in the days leading up to the incident.
Belongings handed to police amid fresh review
In a separate development, Zara’s personal belongings — including the clothes she wore on the day of the incident — were handed over to police on Wednesday.
“This is everything — her clothes and personal items, including what she had on during the incident,” said Hamid, who confirmed the handover took place at his law office following a request from investigators.
Until this week, police had neither collected nor requested the items. The legal team contends that this reflects the limited scope of the initial investigation submitted to the Attorney General’s Chambers.
“They never asked for those things before. I think they’re trying to complete the investigation now,” Hamid said.
Zara’s family has formally applied for an inquest, but no updates have been provided by the authorities. – August 7, 2025
