THE 40th witness in the inquest into the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir told the Coroner’s Court on Friday that her ‘sister’s’ words to the late student were simply a warning and did not touch any junior students during an incident in a dormitory room last April.
The witness, who is also the 31st child involved in the proceedings, explained that Zara Qairina had approached her and a friend to apologise over a letter containing ‘body shaming’ remarks directed at the friend.
"The words were 'Sok-sok orku', meaning a sarcastic reference to someone with strong feelings. When Zara apologised, I did not know whether she had written the letter herself," the witness said.
The witness added that a junior student may also have been involved in writing the letter. During the incident, the witness saw a senior Form Four student pass by the dormitory and ask what had happened.
"I explained about the letter and Zara’s apology. After that, a senior student shouted at another junior student linked to the letter. I saw the senior advising both Zara and the junior not to repeat the act," the witness said.
The witness further recounted that shortly afterward, her sister, a Form Four student, arrived and asked about the situation.
"After being informed, my sister told Zara, 'If I touch you, you’re done.' Other senior students escorted her out to calm her down. At that time, I saw Zara looked scared but she did not cry," the witness said.
He emphasised that the words were merely a threat and that his sister did not physically touch any junior students. "‘Touch touch’ in this context meant she might hit the person," he said.
The witness also stated that he knew about the letter from other senior Form Two students but could not recall its exact contents.
He said that on that night, the senior students treated Zara well and addressed her politely.
He added that nine senior students from Form Two and Four were in the same room with Zara and a junior student during the incident.
The witness said he had never heard Zara mock him and was unaware of any claims that she had written insulting words about him. Their relationship remained cordial, with Zara smiling at him on subsequent encounters.
The witness acknowledged that some senior Form Two students disliked Zara Qairina but did not know their identities.
Mohd Syarulniezam, along with his team members, attended as interested parties representing Zara’s mother, Noraidah Lamat.
Zara Qairina Mahathir was found unconscious beneath her school dormitory on the morning of 16 July and later died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital the following day.
Earlier, the inquest heard that the late teenager had been advised not to repeat writing letters containing ‘body shaming’ remarks. The witness gave testimony in camera before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan.
According to the witness’s lawyer, Joan Gog, the witness, a Form Two student, was not closely acquainted with Zara and had only met her once in late April at around 10pm when Zara wanted to see the witness’s friend.
"Zara apologised to the friend for the letter. Two senior Form Four students entered the room, one asking why Zara apologised. The friend explained it was due to a letter written by Zara and a peer. Zara and her peer were then advised not to repeat the act," Joan said.
She added that the witness’s sister later approached and made the threatening remark, but did not touch Zara or her friend. Other senior students escorted her away, and that was the last time the witness saw Zara.
The lawyer confirmed that other friends of the witness were present and witnessed the incident. Joan and her colleagues represented one of the five students implicated in matters related to Zara Qairina and attended the inquest as interested parties. - November 7, 2025
