Death of Zara Qairina Mahathir

On 16 July 2025, Zara Qairina binti Mahathir, a 13-year-old student at  in Papar, Sabah, suspected falling from the third floor of her school dormitory. She was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu but passed away the next day. 

Background of the incident
At about 3 am on 16 July 2025, Zara Qairina was found unconscious near a drain at the girls' dormitory of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Tun Datu Mustapha, where she studied. No one saw what happened, but many other students were still awake at that time. She was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu, where doctors found she had very serious internal injuries, including broken arms and legs, but no external injuries except a bleeding at her footprint. She was put on life support, but the next day doctors stopped the machine because she no longer had brain function. Zara was later buried at her family home in Kampung Kalamauh Mesapol, Sipitang District.
Investigation
The police received the first report on the morning after Zara was found. Soon after her death, people on social media began to talk about the possibility of bullying at her school. On Sunday, Zara's family made a police report at Papar district police station. They also sent a letter to the school asking for an explanation. Some people accused the former principal, Rosnih Nasir, who is said to be the wife of Deputy Minister Mustapha Sakmud. However, she denied any link, saying she had already retired in November the year before the incident.

On 30 July, a post on the Internet claimed that Zara's death was caused by bullies at the school, including “VVIP kids”. But Zara's family, the police, and the Sabah government all denied these claims.

By early August, about 60 people had given statements to the police, including some of Zara’s schoolmates. On 3 August, Zara’s mother, Noraidah Lamat, made another police report. She said she saw bruises on her daughter’s body when preparing for the burial. Her lawyer asked for the body to be exhumed so that a post-mortem could be done. The lawyers also said police did not take Zara’s clothes for forensic tests, which is not normal in such cases.

On 8 August 2025, the Attorney General of Malaysia ordered Zara’s grave to be re-opened for an autopsy to find the real cause of her death. The re-opening took place on 9 August under tight police control. Many reporters and members of the public came to the site. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim promised that the investigation would be fair and transparent, and that no one would escape punishment if they were found guilty.

Trial and legal proceedings

On 20 August 2025, five teenage girls were charged in the Children's Court in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah under Section 507C(1) of the Malaysian Penal Code for allegedly using abusive language towards Zara, which may have caused her distress. All five pleaded not guilty. If convicted, they face up to one year in prison, a fine, or both.

Responses
The death of Zara Qairina received strong reactions in Malaysia. In Parliament, Indera Mahkota MP Saifuddin Abdullah asked the government to explain how she died, and whether there was any cover-up. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the investigation must be fair and transparent. He also discussed the case with the Inspector-General of Police and the Home Minister to speed up the process.

Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said that the case should be solved based on the "rule of law". He warned that if the law was not followed, the country could face serious problems.

Misinformation
On 21 August, a school teacher from Rawang, Selangor pleaded not guilty of spreading misinformation after claiming that Zara Qairina was murdered after being placed in a washing machine.

References

Category:Murder in Malaysia
Category:2020s murders in Asia
Category:2020s crimes in Asia
Category:Murder in the 2020s