THE services of nine wardens at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama (SMKA) Tun Datu Mustapha were terminated by the State Education Department, the Kota Kinabalu Coroner’s Court was told on Tuesday, in a case linked to the tragic death of a first-form student, Zara Qairina Mahathir, last July.
Nor Asima Zaiton, a 49-year-old English teacher and one of the dismissed wardens, testified that her termination may have been related to the incident.
“I indeed intended to resign from that role long before the incident occurred… we were later informed by the State Education Department that our services as wardens were no longer required,” she told Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan during the inquest.
When asked if her dismissal was connected to Zara Qairina’s death, she replied, “maybe.”
Nor Asima also addressed the temporary closure of six public telephones provided for students to contact their parents in the immediate aftermath of the student’s death.
She said the action, implemented for two days, was directed by Chief Warden Azhari Abd Sagap to reduce panic among parents.
“Students were not entirely prohibited from contacting their parents… I personally allowed a Form One student who was unwell to use my mobile phone to call her mother… imagine if students were spreading unverified news at that time, as they did not know what had happened,” she explained.
On whether she had contravened Azhari’s instructions, Nor Asima clarified: “He did not mention mobile phones; his directive was only regarding public phones.”
When asked if the school had been negligent in relation to Zara Qairina’s death, the former warden declined to comment.
She added that students sometimes used harsh or inappropriate language, noting that a child’s behaviour is heavily influenced by parental guidance and peer pressure.
Zara Qairina, 13, was pronounced dead at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on 17 July after being found unconscious in a drain near the school dormitory.
The inquest continues to examine the circumstances surrounding her death, the school’s response, and measures taken to safeguard students in the wake of the tragedy. - December 2, 2025
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