MORE than 100 family members, friends, and local residents gathered under rainy skies at the Tanjung Ubi Muslim Cemetery in Mesapol, Sipitang this afternoon to witness the exhumation of Zara Qairina Mahathir’s grave.
The operation, carried out under police supervision and monitored by officers from the Sabah Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JHEAINS), follows a court order issued by Magistrate Zuraini Ali Musa during a virtual hearing via Zoom from the Sipitang Magistrates’ Court earlier today.
“The exhumation has been authorised by the court to enable a post-mortem procedure,” confirmed lawyer Hamid Ismail, who represents the family.
He added that the remains will be transported to Kota Kinabalu for further examination, although the specific location has yet to be confirmed. He also cautioned that the process might take longer than usual due to the condition of the body, which has been buried for over 20 days.
The Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) had announced on Thursday that it instructed police to exhume the body of the 13-year-old schoolgirl to ensure a complete investigation into her death. The AGC said it found “the need for further investigation to be undertaken” after reviewing the initial police report.
Zara Qairina, a Form One student at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Tun Datu Mustapha Limauan in Papar, was found unconscious in a drain below her dormitory building around 4am on 16 July. She was pronounced dead the next morning at Queen Elizabeth I Hospital in Kota Kinabalu.
The case has sparked national outrage and intense scrutiny, especially on social media, with speculation of bullying and foul play. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has vowed that “no one will be shielded” in the ongoing investigation, even if prominent individuals are implicated.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun was present during the court session today, while JHEAINS Director Datuk Jumain Abdul Ghani reaffirmed the department’s role in ensuring that the exhumation was carried out respectfully.
“The function of JHEAINS is to ensure that the body is treated with dignity,” he said.
The exhumation process is expected to continue into the evening under strict religious and forensic protocols. - August 9, 2025
