THE Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) will scrutinise social media content questioning the ongoing inquest into the death of 13-year-old student Zara Qairina Mahathir, to determine whether such remarks may amount to contempt of court.
Attorney General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar said today that the public should allow the legal process to run its course and avoid making premature or speculative comments online.
“We will examine the content circulating on TikTok and other social media platforms regarding the inquest before deciding on any further action,” he said.
“Our hope is that the public will let the inquest proceed without interference. Don’t be hasty in commenting on ongoing proceedings.
“At this stage, a forensic pathologist is giving testimony, so those outside the courtroom should not speculate. Just wait for the process to conclude,” he told reporters after officiating the Madani Adopted Village Public Infrastructure Handover Ceremony organised by the Attorney General’s Chambers here today.
The inquest into Zara Qairina’s death began on 3 September at the Kota Kinabalu Coroner’s Court and is scheduled to run over 19 days, including the dates 3–4 September, 8–12 September, 17–19 September, and 22–30 September. The proceedings are presided over by Sessions Court Judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan, who is acting as coroner.
Asked whether the inquest might be expedited due to public interest, Mohd Dusuki said the timeline has already been set and will proceed accordingly.
“Alhamdulillah, the proceedings so far have been progressing well. We should not rush the inquest; let it follow the due process,” he said.
“We too want the inquest to conclude properly, so that it is not mired in continuous polemics or distorted by negative public perceptions.” - Sept 6, 2025