Witness: Zara Qairina was often blamed for missing items and bullied by schoolmates

THE Kota Kinabalu Coroner’s Court was told on Tuesday that the late Zara Qairina Mahathir was frequently blamed whenever personal belongings went missing at her school dormitory or surau.

During the inquest into Zara Qairina’s death, the 24th child witness testified that most missing items were believed to have been taken by the deceased herself.

Recounting the evidence, lawyer Joan Goh said the witness told the court that Zara Qairina had personally admitted to taking some of the items.

“Throughout her time studying and living in the hostel, whenever something went missing — such as water bottles, headscarves, pins or socks — it was usually Zara who had taken them. Each time she did so, she would tell the witness,” Goh said after proceedings.

The witness had also asked Zara why she took other students’ belongings. “Zara replied, ‘They don’t want to use them, so I took them,’” Goh added.

The witness said she often advised Zara to return the items. “Zara promised to do so but did not, until her friends started searching and eventually found the items in her locker — only then did she return them. The witness said she never told anyone about it because she did not know who owned the items,” Goh told the court.

Goh further revealed that the witness described Zara as being frequently mocked and ostracised by her peers.

The 33rd witness, who was also Zara’s classmate in Form One, said Zara was often subjected to body shaming by other students.

“Throughout their time together in the hostel, the witness saw Zara being teased and excluded by other girls. She often heard students calling her names and mocking her body shape, saying things like ‘you’re so fat’, to which Zara would just laugh and reply, ‘Yes, I am,’” Goh said.

The witness also recounted that some male classmates would shout “anak Mahathir, anak Mahathir” (“Mahathir’s daughter”) at Zara almost every day.

However, Zara never showed anger at the taunts. Instead, the witness said, she appeared to express her feelings privately in her diary.

The court also heard that Zara had told the witness she was repeatedly ostracised by several schoolmates from Form One through Form Five.

“Zara said she was often teased about her behaviour and appearance, and that her father’s name became a source of mockery among students. But she told the witness she didn’t mind and didn’t care about what her friends said,” Goh said. - October 29, 2025