THE public has been urged to immediately refrain from speculation, allegations and baseless statements surrounding the death of the late Zara Qairina, as the matter is currently under examination through a court inquest.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Marhamah Rosli, said any discussion not grounded in facts not only risks undermining the judicial process, but also carries sin and accountability before Allah SWT.
She said actions such as embellishing stories, making assumptions and spreading negative perceptions were unethical, lacking in moral conduct and clearly contrary to Islamic principles.
“This is not merely advice, but a firm warning to society. This case is at the inquest stage, therefore no one has the right to draw conclusions, make accusations or construct their own narrative.
“Let the court carry out its responsibility. We, as outsiders, should only support, pray and ensure that the justice process runs smoothly so that the cause of death can be fully uncovered,” she said at a press conference on Saturday.
Marhamah had earlier officiated the Ihya Ramadan Programme and the launch of the 2026 Education Programme of the Kelantan Orphans Welfare Foundation at the foundation’s premises.
She made the remarks when commenting on the inquest proceedings, including testimony from the 62nd witness, the mother of one of the students involved, who told the court that her child had been labelled a “killer” and had suffered emotional pressure and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Media reports previously said the 62nd witness alleged she had been harassed by the late Zara Qairina Mahathir’s mother via WhatsApp, accusing her of wrongdoing for allowing her child to speak truthfully to the police.
The witness, who is also the mother of Student A, claimed that Zara Qairina’s mother, Noraidah Lamat, had asked them to retract her child’s statement by contacting the police officer handling the case. - February 7, 2026
