KOTA KINABALU (Oct 7): The mother of the late Zara Qairina Mahathir was aware that Zara had tried to use vape.
Noraidah Lamat, who was testifying before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan, said she asked Zara about using vape after she came to know some male students had been caught using vape in the school’s toilet.
“I asked Zara about the matter and I asked whether she was involved, she at first said no, but when I asked her to tell the truth, Zara then said yes she did try a little.
“From there, I knew Zara did try to use vape,” said Noraidah.
Under examination-in-chief by counsel Shahlan Jufri, Noraidah, the 82nd deponent, testified that she did not get angry with Zara about vaping, but she did nag Zara about its dangers.
To a question from Shahlan, Noraidah said Zara’s reaction at the time was to chuckle because she likely did not know the harm of using vape.
To another question, Noraidah testified that since the beginning, Zara was consistent with her ambition of being a policewoman.
“I don’t know why she wanted to become a policewoman, but maybe because of the characteristics of the police, which is wearing a uniform and Zara was also an active person,” said Noraidah. - borneopost
KOTA KINABALU (Oct 7): The Coroner’s Court here heard the late Zara Qairina Mahathir’s mother never prevented Zara from communicating with or meeting her father.
Noraidah Lamat, 46, told Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan that throughout the time Zara lived with her, Zara communicated with her father Mahathir Mohd Hashim via phone calls and WhatsApp.
“When Zara was about six years old (2018), Zara was already able to record voice messages and sent them herself to Mahathir on WhatsApp.
“During the Movement Control Order (2021), I provided Zara with a mobile phone, which made it easier for Mahathir to contact her at any time,” Noraidah testified.
Under examination-in-chief by counsel Shahlan Jufri, Noraidah further testified that Zara would frequently contact Mahathir to discuss her studies and other matters she wished to share and, from what Noraidah heard and knew, Mahathir treated Zara well.
She also testified that the last time Zara met Mahathir in person, apart from Mahathir’s visit to the hospital on July 16, 2025, was when Zara was in Primary 1 (October 2019) at their home, when she was seven years old and after that, Zara and Mahathir kept in touch solely through WhatsApp.
“Zara was used to Mahathir working away from Sipitang and never questioned his absence from home, as this arrangement had been normal since she was small.
“Zara never complained to me or expressed any dissatisfaction regarding Mahathir. Zara also had a good relationship with her paternal grandparents and they often came to visit her and invited her to their home, which is located in Sipitang,” said Noraidah.
She added that she and Mahathir are still legally married but living separately.- borneopost
Kota Kinabalu: Zara Qairina Mahathir never expressed any intention to die, commit suicide, or harm herself, the Coroner’s Court heard today.Testifying before the court, her mother, Noraidah Lamat, said she had never witnessed her daughter attempt self-harm at any point while raising her.Noraidah told counsel Shahlan Jufri that she had read several of Zara’s notebooks and diaries over the years, none of which contained writings suggesting suicidal ideation or self-harm.
She explained that Zara began keeping notebooks after her primary school teacher encouraged pupils to write about their daily routines, activities, and memories.
According to Noraidah, her daughter’s entries transitioned from simple lists of animals, states, and drawings in lower primary school to accounts of daily life, routines, and friendships in upper primary school. -dailyexpress
Machang member of parliament Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal was hospitalised after losing consciousness earlier today. Pic courtesy of Wan Fayhsal
KUALA LUMPUR: Machang member of parliament Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal has been hospitalised at Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) after losing consciousness at home this morning.
He said he passed out while helping one of his children with homework.
"Earlier in the morning, while I was helping my child finish up some homework, I lost consciousness.
"I am now in HKL to undergo checks and emergency treatment. InsyaAllah, I will undergo a CT scan," he said in a social media posting.
Earlier, his private secretary, Wan Meor Safwat Naqiuddin Shamsudin, had said Wan Fayhsal was in stable condition in hospital. - NST
The situation at Bangsar LRT station. Pic Courtesy of AJ
KUALA LUMPUR: Congestion at the Bukit Bintang MRT station eased tonight after a surge in passenger numbers disrupted the flow of commuters on the Kajang Line around 8pm.
Rapid KL said in an update at 11pm that passenger movement at the station had returned to normal.
"We will continue to monitor the situation from time to time," it said in a statement, without elaborating on the cause of the congestion.
The congestion was also believed to have affected commuters at other stations, including Bangsar LRT station, where many passengers were left waiting.
A commuter, who wished to be known as AJ, said he had to wait for almost an hour at Bangsar LRT station while trying to get home to Meru, Klang.
AJ said station management had announced that trains had to be operated manually, slowing down services and resulting in more passengers waiting on the platform.
"The situation is still very crowded at Bangsar station and I have already missed 10 trains because I could not squeeze my way in.
"The frequency of trains appears to have returned to normal, with trains arriving every two minutes, but every train that arrives is packed with passengers," he said when contacted.
AJ expressed frustration over the recurring service disruptions and urged the rail operator to take proactive measures to address the issue.
He also called on the operator to take the problem seriously and avoid being complacent in dealing with recurring service disruptions. - NST
Company says its passenger left without any hand carry baggage and that he only intended to collect his luggage in Laos.
CGT Asia Pte Ltd said the private jet had been scheduled to fly from Subang airport to Laos and then to Manila before returning to Subang. (File pic)
PETALING JAYA: The private jet linked to the discovery of 521kg of methamphetamine in Laos did not carry the 23 bags that were later found to contain the drugs, the charter firm that operated the flight said.
Singapore-based CGT Asia Pte Ltd said the plane was scheduled to leave from Subang airport and make a stop at Luang Prabang International Airport in Laos before flying to Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila in the Philippines, and returning to Subang airport.
It said a Filipino passenger had boarded the plane at Subang airport on Oct 1 without any carry-on baggage, after informing the flight crew that he intended to collect luggage in Laos.
“The crew was informed that the passenger intended to collect luggage containing vape products for the onward flight (to Manila) and that the passenger would personally handle the customs clearance process.
“However, the crew was not informed that the luggage would consist of approximately 23 pieces, and this quantity was substantially greater than anticipated,” it said in a statement.
CGT Asia said the flight’s operating crew were not involved in the customs clearance process in Laos.
After being informed about the number of luggage involved, it said the crew raised operational and safety concerns, including the unusually large quantity of baggage and the possible presence of lithium batteries or potentially dangerous goods.
“Prior to receiving information from the Lao authorities, neither CGT Asia nor the operating flight crew had knowledge that the luggage allegedly contained illicit drugs or controlled substances.
“The operating crew had already refused carriage of the baggage before becoming aware of its alleged contents. The luggage was not accepted for carriage and was not loaded onto the aircraft at Luang Prabang International Airport.
“Subsequently, the relevant Lao authorities inspected and took control of the luggage and advised that the baggage was suspected of containing a significant quantity of illicit drugs or controlled substances concealed within or among the declared items,” it said.
CGT Asia reiterated that neither the company nor the flight’s operating crew knowingly agreed to transport drugs or other prohibited cargo.
It said it will continue cooperating with the authorities in their investigation into the case.
Laotian police were reportedly tipped off that a drug trafficking ring planned to smuggle drugs through a private aircraft arriving at Luang Prabang International Airport on Oct 1.
Police later found 21 suitcases containing meth and arrested 13 suspects, including the pilot, co-pilot, a foreign tourist, three company employees, and seven Luang Prabang International Airport workers.
A Malaysian was among the 13 suspects, but Bukit Aman said the suspect was not on the flight while the pilot and co-pilot were not Malaysians.
Malaysian police later arrested four people linked to the case, shortly before the aircraft they were in was scheduled to depart from Subang for Manila.
This includes a pilot who owns the company that operated the private charter flight at the centre of the drug trafficking case. - FMT
Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah says the Sarawak government will not allow the state assembly's term to expire automatically in February 2027.
Sarawak tourism, creative industry and performing arts minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the 2027 budget will be tabled at the upcoming state assembly meeting. (Bernama pic)
KUCHING: The Sarawak state assembly is expected to be dissolved in November or two weeks after the state’s 2027 budget is passed.
Sarawak tourism, creative industry and performing arts minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the budget would be tabled at the coming state assembly meeting.
He said the Sarawak government would also not allow the state legislative assembly’s term to expire automatically in February 2027.
“Rarely would a menteri besar, chief minister or, in Sarawak’s case, the premier, allow the state assembly to dissolve automatically, as they would usually seek its dissolution.
“So, when we look at the situation now, it is already October and there are only a few months left (until the term ends). We have to have the election soon.
“The date (for the dissolution) may be anytime in November, perhaps two weeks after (the Sarawak budget),” he told reporters after attending the Sarawak Women of Tomorrow 2026 event here today.
According to media reports, the Sarawak assembly meeting is expected to run from Oct 12 to 21. - FMT
