How the Zara Qairina tragedy became caught in political crossfire

FMT explores how a child’s death became entangled in political narratives and election-season grandstanding.

Zara Qairina Mahathir, 13, died in hospital in Kota Kinabalu on July 17, a day after she was found unconscious in a drain near her school’s hostel in Papar. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 When 13-year-old Zara Qairina was found unconscious in a drain outside her dormitory in Papar, Sabah, in the early hours of July 16, no one could have imagined how swiftly her death would ignite national outrage and later, political opportunism.

The Form One student at a government boarding school succumbed to her injuries at Hospital Queen Elizabeth the following day.

In the weeks that followed, what began as a search for justice became overshadowed by rumours, misinformation and a scramble among politicians eager to harness public anger ahead of the looming state elections.

FMT takes a closer look at how a tragedy that united Malaysians in grief soon spiralled into one of the year’s most divisive public sagas.

The case that stirred a nation

According to Bernama, Zara was found around 3am, believed to have fallen from the third floor of the school dormitory. Police initially treated it as a sudden death, but public outrage quickly grew.

By July 18, Papar police chief Kamaruddin Ambo Sakka urged the public not to speculate, even as social media brimmed with theories linking “VVIP children” and “cover-ups”.

On Aug 1, GRS’s deputy secretary-general Armizan Ali’s office moved to dispel the rumours, with his political secretary, Ghazali Hajiji, posting on Facebook rejecting as baseless speculation linking the MP’s family to the incident.

“For the record, Armizan has no children studying at this school. Sabah’s political landscape is mature; we need not stoop so low. Enough is enough, we are better than this.”

A day later, Malay Mail reported that police had found no evidence linking any VIP children — including those from ministers’ families or linked to Istana Seri Kinabalu — to Zara’s death.

“So far, there is no evidence suggesting VIP children were involved. Police will not compromise or protect anyone, regardless of background,” Kamaruddin assured.

That same day, Zara’s mother publicly refuted claims that she had ever accused any VIP of involvement.

The investigation unfolds

On Aug 3, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, speaking in Kota Kinabalu, vowed full transparency in the investigation and cautioned against unfounded allegations.

“No one will be shielded if they are linked to her death — regardless of status, including any Tan Sri or Datuk Seri.

“But do not accuse others without proof. If there is evidence of wrongdoing, we will punish (the wrongdoers). We are a country of laws, not a nation of slander,” the Star quoted him as saying.

Later that month, home minister Saifuddin Nasution would dismiss in Parliament claims of a cover-up, insisting that the case was being handled according to proper procedure.

That same month, the Attorney-General’s Chambers ordered Zara’s body exhumed to allow for a second post-mortem. Forensic pathologists later confirmed that she died from head injuries consistent with a fall.

There were no signs of strangulation, restraint or pre-fall trauma — findings that directly contradicted the wilder conspiracy theories circulating online.

According to Sabah’s Daily Express, police later confirmed that Zara had indeed been bullied by several older students.

On Aug 20, five girls — all minors — were charged under Section 507C of the Penal Code for harassment and using abusive language. Prosecutors insisted that these charges were unrelated to her death.

The inquest that began in September revealed new details about the events leading up to Zara’s death. Evidence emerged that several senior students had confronted her in the dormitory over missing items on the night of July 15.

One student recalled Zara locking herself in the bathroom, crying. Another testified that she seemed “sad and withdrawn” after being scolded.

A government chemist later confirmed that Zara’s blood was found on the torn pages of a diary she kept in her room.

Medical experts told the court that her injuries were caused by a fall from height, with no signs of a physical struggle.

The moment it turned political

With the inquest ongoing ,the case took a political turn on Sept 22.

In a fiery statement at a public event captured on video that quickly went viral, Warisan president Shafie Apdal voiced frustration over the pace of the inquest, saying it was taking too long.

“The child has died. It’s not bullying, it’s murder. True or not? Why the delay?”

The statement ignited immediate backlash.

In a joint media statement issued the next day, lawyers Azhier Farhan Arisin, Abdul Fikry Jaafar Abdullah, Mohammed Fareez Mohamed Salleh and Sylvester Kuan — representing the five accused students — said Shafie’s comments were inflammatory with proceedings still ongoing.

“Calling this case murder without due process is highly irresponsible and gravely prejudicial. It is a blatant attempt to inflame public sentiment for political gain in the forthcoming state election,” Malay Mail quoted them as saying.

Within days, the Attorney-General’s Chambers issued a show-cause letter to Shafie over possible contempt of court.

Shafie’s comments, delivered amid rising anticipation of the state polls, reflected his party’s long-standing narrative that local issues and concerns are often overlooked by federal leaders.

Meanwhile, Pahang PAS information chief Aireroshairi Roslan issued a lengthy Facebook statement on Aug 26 linking the case to what he described as the “moral bankruptcy” of the Madani government.

He further accused the home and education ministries of various shortcomings in the handling of the matter and called for the resignations of both ministers.

However, chief minister Hajiji Noor, quoted by Bernama, urged everyone to “let the legal process take its course”.

The plea was echoed by Armizan, but public anger was not so easily contained.

On Aug 21, hundreds of students and activists gathered outside the education ministry in Putrajaya, accusing the government of inaction.

Among those leading the public pressure campaign were student activists who said the government had failed to act decisively on bullying in schools.

Tang Yi Ze, president of the University of Malaya Association of New Youth (UMANY), told Malay Mail that education minister Fadhlina Sidek could no longer ignore calls for accountability.

“Fadhlina must be held accountable because, so far, nothing has been done regarding Zara’s case and the issue of bullying. This is not an isolated case; bullying like this has been happening for a long time.”

Another student leader, Azamuddin Sahar, who heads the Muslim Students Association of Malaysia (GAMIS), took a more hardline stance during a protest outside the education ministry in Putrajaya.

“We give 30 days for tangible action — a national anti-bullying plan, training for wardens, psychosocial support in schools — if not, step down. Step down, Fadhlina, step down!”

Fadhlina responded that same day, saying the ministry was strengthening safety measures through CCTVs, safety audits and a reforms committee to ensure student safety.

She framed the issue as a shared responsibility, emphasising that combating bullying and creating a safe ecosystem in schools required collective effort.

A case consumed by politics

Proceedings inside the courtroom and remarks made by politicians and others online continue to shape public perception in the lead up to the state polls on Nov 29.

Figures aligned with the unity and state governments, however, will point to the swift exhumation of the girl’s remains and the open nature of the inquest hearings as evidence of transparency — confident that these measures have sufficiently quelled premature speculation and online rumours. - FMT