THE Attorney General’s Chambers is still awaiting a formal reply from Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal concerning comments he made that were viewed as potentially contemptuous in relation to the inquest into the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir.
Attorney General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar confirmed that a show cause notice had been issued to the former Sabah Chief Minister last week, but no response had been received to date.
“As of today, I have yet to receive any feedback from Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie regarding the remarks he made,” he said.
“He did indicate that he would be responding to the notice, so we will wait accordingly. There is still time, and there is no fixed deadline for this issue. It is not the case that if he fails to respond, he will be immediately punished.”
Tan Sri Dusuki made the remarks while attending the conferment of state honours in conjunction with the 56th birthday celebration of the Sultan of Kelantan, Sultan Muhammad V, held at Istana Balai Besar on Sunday.
The matter stems from a widely circulated video in which Mohd Shafie is heard commenting on the Zara Qairina case during a public event. In the footage, he is heard saying: “Itu budak sudah mati, bukan buli, it’s a murder (That child is already dead, it’s not bullying, it’s a murder). Betul kah?” – a statement that was met with agreement from the audience.
Following the video’s circulation, Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan, presiding over the inquest, granted an application by lawyer Datuk Ram Singh for a show cause notice to be issued. The application was supported by all parties involved in the proceeding.
The inquest, now into its eleventh day, seeks to determine the cause of death of Zara Qairina, whose case has drawn national attention.
The Attorney General’s Chambers has emphasised due process and is allowing space for a response before considering any further legal action. - September 29, 2025
