THE mother of Zara Qairina Mahathir, the 13-year-old girl who died after allegedly falling from the third floor of her school dormitory in Papar, near Kota Kinabalu, Sabah has requested for her daughter’s grave to be exhumed in order to conduct a post-mortem and establish the true cause of death.
“I want the questions that have haunted me for the past 14 days to be answered,” said Noraidah Lamat, 45. “To get those answers and justice for my daughter, I have instructed two lawyers to begin the process of opening her grave for an autopsy.”
Zara, a Form One student at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama (SMKA) Tun Datu Mustapha Limauan, was buried on 17 July without an autopsy. Noraidah explained that in her grief, and in the absence of any suggestion by authorities to conduct one, she agreed to a swift burial.
However, she said the family has since been troubled by doubts and inconsistencies. “This tragedy has devastated us. But I need to know what truly caused her death. The post-mortem is essential.”
“There are so many rumours about how Zara died, and they are painful. None of those words came from me. I urge everyone to stop speculating,” she said. “Whatever the results of the autopsy and police investigation, I will accept them with an open heart—because they will finally give us the answers we need.”
Investigation Nearing Conclusion, Police Say
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun confirmed that 60 witnesses have been interviewed as part of the investigation, including school staff, students and parents. Names including ‘Kak Wana’, ‘Kak Dedeng’ and ‘Tomboi’ have reportedly surfaced during the inquiry.
Zara was found critically injured beneath her dormitory building at around 3am on 16 July. She was rushed to Queen Elizabeth I Hospital in Kota Kinabalu, but died the next day. Early reports suggest she fell from the third floor, with bullying being considered as a possible contributing factor.
The case has now been referred to federal police at Bukit Aman for further analysis. Police have not ruled out foul play.
Mother Questions School Response and Investigative Focus
Recounting the events of 16 July, Noraidah said she received a call from a school warden informing her that Zara had fallen and sustained serious injuries. She and her husband travelled over two hours from Sipitang to reach the hospital.
“When we arrived at the emergency ward at around 10am, the place was already filled with officials—including police and the school’s management,” she said.
“When I finally saw her, Zara’s face was uninjured, but her body was hooked up to various machines. A doctor and a counsellor told me that even if she survived, she would not be the same again, because her brain had suffered irreparable damage. I couldn’t understand what they were trying to tell me,” she said.
Past Incident of Sexual Harassment Reported
Although she could not confirm whether bullying played a role in her daughter’s death, Noraidah said Zara had previously reported an incident of sexual harassment by a fellow student.
“She told the school counsellor about it and was assured action would be taken if it happened again. After that, the student stopped bothering her,” she said.
“Now there are so many stories linking Zara’s death to bullying. I don’t know what is true or not, especially since I live more than 100 kilometres from the school.”
Noraidah also raised concerns over the direction of the investigation, particularly efforts to scrutinise Zara’s past at primary school and the family’s life in Sipitang.
“I don’t understand how her earlier school years or our family’s background are relevant to what happened.”
“She was a bright and cheerful girl, well known in Sipitang. She was academically gifted, which is why she was admitted into a full-boarding school,” she said.
The investigation continues, with the family now placing hope in a court-approved exhumation and forensic review to bring long-awaited clarity and closure. - August 1, 2025
