A CHILD psychologist and registered counsellor has told the Kota Kinabalu Coroner's Court that the late Zara Qairina Mahathir exhibited healthy emotional, cognitive and social development throughout her childhood, with no evidence suggesting a consistent pattern of suicidal intent before her death
Dr Noor Aishah Rosli, the 76th witness in the inquest, testified before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan that her psychological autopsy and assessment of the available evidence found no indication that the 13-year-old had significant developmental delays, behavioural disorders, severe mental illness or a sustained history of suicidal behaviour.
According to her witness statement, Zara was an easy-going and cheerful child from infancy, adapting well to her surroundings and displaying no significant behavioural problems.
“From an early developmental perspective, there is no information indicating that Zara has any significant developmental delays, speech delays, behavioural disorders, emotional disorders, or developmental issues,” she said.
Dr Noor Aishah said Zara demonstrated healthy cognitive, emotional and social development between the ages of four and six, participating enthusiastically in creative activities including colouring, drawing, singing, playing the guitar and storytelling.
She was also described as brave, outgoing and friendly, interacting comfortably with those around her.
Throughout her primary school years, from the ages of seven to 12, Zara continued to display positive development across academic, behavioural, emotional and social domains.
“Based on the data I analysed, there was no clear history of suicide attempts in Zara's life before the incident,” she said.
Addressing evidence relating to "barcode" behaviour, or non-suicidal self-injury, Dr Noor Aishah said such conduct should not automatically be regarded as evidence of suicidal intent. Instead, she said it should be understood within the broader context of adolescent development, peer influence, prevailing social trends and immature emotional expression.
“In my assessment, the episode was insufficient to support the conclusion that Zara had a stable, planned or persistent intention to end her own life,” she said.
Referring to established psychological theories of suicide risk, including the interpersonal theory of suicide, Dr Noor Aishah said assessments should consider feelings of rejection, perceived burdensomeness, an individual's capability to inflict serious self-harm and the presence of acute risk factors.
However, she said the available evidence did not strongly indicate that these elements were consistently or predominantly present in Zara's case before the incident.
Although Zara experienced social sensitivity, peer conflict, friendship jealousy, pressures associated with boarding school life and several situational maladaptive behaviours, those factors alone were insufficient to conclude that she had formed a stable or premeditated intention to end her life, she said.
She stressed that investigators should instead carefully examine external, situational and interpersonal factors within the school and hostel environment before the incident, rather than attributing Zara's death solely to family conflict or internal psychological factors.
She also rejected suggestions that Zara's relationship with her mother should be viewed in isolation as the principal contributing factor. “Instead, the relationship as a whole demonstrated attachment, affection, emotional support and open communication.”
Dr Noor Aishah added that psychological conclusions should never be drawn solely from isolated written material, but must take into account an individual's complete developmental history, interviews, witness observations, telephone transcripts, school records, family history, protective factors and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Zara was found unconscious on the ground floor of her school hostel on July 16, 2025, and died the following day at Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Her death prompted widespread public concern and calls for a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. The inquest began on Sept 3, 2025. - July 13, 2026
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