Inquest proceedings over the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir saw a tense moment today when the coroner suddenly stood and left his bench after twice asking, “Am I not fair enough?” during questioning of consultant psychiatrist Dr Wong Haw Huo.
The inquest was subsequently paused for about 50 minutes before resuming before coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan.
The exchange took place while Wong, the 75th witness in the inquest, was being questioned by lawyer Ram Singh, counsel for one of the teenagers charged in the bullying case involving Zara.
The lawyer had repeatedly asked Wong to provide direct answers to his questions, including on the cause of Zara’s fall and whether the teenager was alone before the incident.
Rizwandean M Borhan, representing Zara’s mother, then remarked that Ram’s questioning of Wong appeared harsh.
Ram: Sir, don’t use the word harsh on me. In the past and towards the end, they (other counsel) were also very harsh, but this is very important for us. Very important.
Amir: But this is an inquest, not a trial.
Ram: I’m not saying it's a trial, sir. I mean let's be fair to us. Let's be fair.
Amir: Am I not fair? Am I not fair enough?
Ram: You are fair, sir.
Amir subsequently repeated his question, to which Ram replied, “No sir, let’s not get agitated with this. He (Wong) is going round and round and explaining.”
Not questioning fairness
After the 50-minute pause, Ram apologised to the court, saying he had not intended his earlier remarks to be construed as questioning the fairness of the proceedings.
Ram also said the coroner’s decision to leave the courtroom had come as a shock to him as counsel in the inquest, adding that he hoped such an incident would not recur. Rizwandean also tendered an apology.
Amir accepted the apologies from Ram and Rizwandean, but reminded both lawyers to remain cautious and professional in conducting themselves throughout the inquest.
“I should also apologise to you all for bursting out, and this is the first time (in 21 years) that I walked out from the bench, with a little pain in my chest. Let’s not be emotional. Let’s be professional. That is the main aim for this inquest,” he said.
Last person to meet Zara ‘important’
Wong later told the court that the last student to encounter Zara before the fall had been regarded as an important person in assessing the teenager’s mental state shortly before the incident.
Wong said interviewing the student would have enabled the psychiatrists to better understand Zara’s conversation, appearance, speech, behaviour and emotional condition at the time.
He said such information was important in establishing the girl’s mental state, including her understanding of the possible consequences of her actions.
Zara died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on July 17, 2025, a day after she was found unconscious in a drain near her school hostel at about 4am.
- Bernama
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