A STUDENT identified only as "A", one of the peers of the late Zara Qairina Mahathir, has transferred to another school following the incident that led to Zara’s death, the Coroner’s Court heard today.
Senior Warden Azhari Abd Sagap confirmed the transfer during questioning by Shahlan Jufri, the lawyer representing Zara's mother, in front of Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan.
“Yes,” Azhari replied when asked to confirm whether Student A had left the school. However, he admitted that he was not informed of the reasons behind the move and said it was not within his purview to approve or manage transfers.
“I do not know why the student transferred,” Azhari said, adding that such matters are handled by the Ministry of Education.
This revelation came despite a purported freeze on student transfers issued by the ministry following the incident involving Zara in July. When asked how Student A was still able to move, Azhari responded, “That is not my responsibility.”
He noted that transfers typically require the completion of official forms and documentation but was unable to confirm how long approvals usually take or whether the process had been expedited.
Azhari was the eighth witness to testify in the ongoing inquest into the death of Zara Qairina, a student at SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha, who was found unconscious in her hostel room on the morning of 16 July and later died in hospital.
The court also heard that four other students — identified only as B, C, D, and E — who were involved in a confrontation over allegations of theft on 15 July, remain at the school. Student E, who previously served as the dormitory leader, no longer resides in the same room due to trauma.
“She said she could not stay in the room anymore. She’s no longer the dorm leader,” Azhari said.
He confirmed that students B, C and D continue to reside in the same dormitory room.
In an emotional segment of his testimony, Azhari tearfully denied accusations that he or any member of the school staff attempted to conceal the circumstances surrounding Zara’s death.
“If we wanted to protect bullies or — if there was one — a murderer, I would not have reported the events of 15 July to the police,” he said. “I told them what happened the next night, on the 16th, even before Zara’s mother made her second police report.”
He said he had been in contact with the police from the outset and handed over audio recordings, including one from an individual referred to as "Kak M", whose identity he helped clarify.
“‘Kak M’ is not the student being accused online. That student is a good girl — she was always among the first to complete her Quran memorisation in my class. The accusations against her are cruel,” Azhari said, breaking down as he described the student’s achievements.
He added that the criticism he and the school received was unjust.
“I accompanied Zara in the ambulance, I called emergency services, I waited at the hospital with her mother. I didn’t even leave to wash up until much later,” he recounted.
The court was told that on the morning of 17 July, Azhari took one student to the Papar District Police Headquarters (IPD Papar) to give a statement and then returned to the hospital to see Zara.
“I was there when the life-support machine was removed. I led the dawn prayers in front of over 600 students. I followed Zara’s body from the hospital to forensics and to her burial. What more do people want from me?” he said.
He also revealed that his wife had only recently transferred to the same school after years apart, but their child had to be left with family in Beaufort due to the fallout from the case.
“I knew Zara. I taught her. Her diary even mentioned my class. I just want justice for her, too. But why must we be the ones vilified?” he said.
Azhari further claimed that no complaints were lodged by Zara’s mother with the school prior to her death, including about the “Kak M” audio incident, which he said dated back to May.
“I checked the school’s official communication groups. Not a single complaint was made,” he added.
Following Azhari’s tearful testimony, Coroner Amir Shah adjourned proceedings for a midday break.
Earlier in the day, a forensic document examiner from Kuala Lumpur, Dr Linthini Gannetion, arrived at the Kota Kinabalu Court Complex to conduct an initial examination of documents allegedly belonging to Zara, including notebooks and a personal diary.
Dr Linthini, who holds a PhD in forensic document examination and is recognised as Malaysia’s first woman to do so by the Malaysia Book of Records, brought equipment to authenticate the materials.
She is expected to testify on behalf of Zara’s mother in upcoming proceedings.
Shahlan Jufri, the family’s lawyer, has also expressed the intention to engage an independent psychologist to assess Zara’s mental state before her death — but only after the authenticity of her writings has been fully verified. - September 18, 2025
