Expert in Zara inquest not a registered child psychologist, coroner told

 Inquest conducting officer says Noor Aishah Rosli is not registered as a child clinical psychology specialist under the Allied Health Professions Act 2016.

Zara Qairina Mahathir died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu on July 17 last year, a day after she was found unconscious near a drain at her school’s hostel in Papar. (Facebook pic)

KOTA KINABALU:

The coroner’s court here was told that the 76th witness in the inquest into the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir is not registered as a child clinical psychology specialist under the Allied Health Professions Act 2016.

The inquest’s conducting officer, Nahra Dollah, said Noor Aishah Rosli, 51, was only registered with the Malaysian Board of Counsellors and had relied on her academic and clinical qualifications in child clinical psychology to prepare Zara’s psychological autopsy report.

She said anyone using the title of child clinical psychology specialist must be registered under the Allied Health Professions Act 2016, and that this was an important issue in the inquest.

Giving evidence for the second day, Noor Aishah acknowledged before coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan that she was not registered under the Act.

She added that she practised under her registration with the Board of Counsellors and held a clinical psychology practice licence from the US.

She also told the court that members of the Board of Counsellors were allowed to practise and that their statements and assessments concerning children and adolescents were accepted for use in court.

However, Nahra maintained that it is an offence to use the title of child clinical psychologist without being registered under the Act.

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. - FMT