THE high-stakes examination of crucial psychiatric evidence at the inquest into the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir was dramatically interrupted today when Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan walked out of the courtroom after a dispute erupted over the fairness and manner of questioning.
The Coroner's Court was thrown into an unexpected standstill for about 50 minutes as consultant psychiatrist Dr Wong Haw Huo, the 75th witness, was being questioned about matters central to reconstructing Zara Qairina's mental state before her fatal fall.
The confrontation began when lawyer Datuk Ram Singh, representing one of the teenagers charged in the bullying case involving Zara Qairina, repeatedly sought direct answers from Wong on the circumstances of the fall, including whether the teenager had been alone before the incident.
Datuk Ridzwandean Bukhary M. Borhan, counsel for Zara Qairina's mother, objected and described Ram's questioning as "harsh".
Ram responded: "Don't use the word 'harsh' on me. In the past, this is towards the end. There were very harsh also. I'm not here for that. But this is very important for us. Very important. Okay."
Amir Shah replied: "But this is an inquest, not a trial."
Ram responded: "I'm not saying it's a trial. He (the witness) is making it the way it is, uh, making us to cross him, but we are not crossing him. Tuan, I mean, let's be fair to us. Let's be fair. I don't see that there are any...."
The coroner then asked: "Am I not fair enough?"
Ram replied: "You are fair, Tuan."
Amir Shah repeated: "Am I not fair enough?"
Ram said: "No, Tuan. Let's not get too agitated with this. He is going round and round and explaining. Okay?"
The coroner then stood and left the courtroom without giving any instructions or indicating that proceedings were to stand down.
The hearing resumed at about 10.50am after nearly an hour, with both Ram and Ridzwandean tendering apologies.
Ram said: "As a senior lawyer, it is not meant as what maybe Your Honour might think or the audience in this court. All I ask the witness to do is to answer questions directly. So, I tender my sincere apologies, first of all, to Tuan. I know we are towards the end of the inquest. It is not done yet."
The coroner asked: "Did you in any way insinuate that the bench is not being fair to you?"
Ram replied: "No, don't use the word 'insinuate'. I have not the slightest indication or slightest thought in my mind on that issue. All I said was let us all be fair. Of course, I did not want to ignore that too, but by saying him, I want to proceed. Of course, it came as a shock to me as a counsel in this inquest that Tuan got up just now. I hope this thing will not happen again."
Ridzwandean also apologised, saying: "I would also like to tender my apologies if my talk was a bit excessive and I have objected to the question. So, I tender my sincerest apologies."
Amir Shah accepted both apologies but reminded all parties that the proceedings must continue smoothly, fairly and professionally.
The coroner also apologised to those in the courtroom, saying it was the first time in his 21 years on the bench that he had "burst out" and stepped down from it.
"It is me who apologise to you all because this is the first time in my entire 21 years on the bench that I have burst out. This is the first time, and this is also the first time that I have stepped down from the bench, and 'rasa sakit dada sikit' (felt a slight pain in my chest).
"Let's not be emotional. Let's be professional. That is the main aim of this inquest.
"Datuk Ram, I accept your apology as well as Ridzwandean's, but with caution. I remember I have given this reminder before, haven't I? We should conduct this inquest smoothly, fairly and professionally. It is important for the witness to answer and explain his answers because there is no cross-examination. As much as I can be fair to you, please be fair to me as well."
The significance of Wong's testimony returned to the forefront after proceedings resumed.
The psychiatrist told the court that the last student known to have encountered Zara Qairina before her fall was an important person in assessing the teenager's mental state shortly before the incident.
Wong said interviewing that student could have enabled psychiatrists to better understand Zara Qairina's conversation, appearance, speech, behaviour and emotional condition.
He said the information was important in establishing her state of mind, including her understanding of the possible consequences of her actions.
Zara Qairina died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on July 17, 2025, a day after she was found unconscious in a drain near her school hostel at about 4am.
As the inquest examines the circumstances surrounding her final hours, Wong's evidence on the teenager's state of mind and the testimony of the last person known to have encountered her remain among the key factors in establishing what happened before her fatal fall. - August 26, 2026
