What happened to Zara Qairina? Death of Malaysian schoolgirl found near drain sparks outcry over bullying
The body of a 13-year-old Malaysian girl has been exhumed for a post-mortem following public pressure on the government amid allegations that her death was linked to bullying.
Secondary school student Zara Qairina Mahathir was found unconscious near a drain beneath her school dormitory at SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha Limauan in the state of Sabah, east Malaysia, at 3am on July 16. She had sustained severe injuries and was admitted to Queen Elizabeth I Hospital, where she died the following day.
Her death prompted the hashtag #JusticeForZara and widespread calls for accountability after claims circulated online implicating prominent figures. Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said on July 18 that the ministry was “fully cooperating with police and allowing the investigation to proceed without interference.”
On July 21, Zara Qairina’s mother, Noraidah Lamat, called for “a transparent, fair, and just investigation” into her daughter’s death, revealing that the last time she saw her only child was during a school event on July 12.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun said on July 28 that investigators were examining the case “from all angles” and urged the public “to remain calm and avoid speculation.” Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud later denied “baseless” allegations of involvement against him or his wife, the school’s former principal.
Following legal requests from the family, the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) instructed police to exhume Zara Qairina’s remains to assist the investigation. The exhumation took place on August 9 and the body was transferred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where a post-mortem was carried out the following day by four pathologists.
On August 11, her body was reburied at the Tanjung Ubi Muslim Cemetery in Sipitang. The family’s lawyer denied viral claims that screams heard in a widely shared video were those of Zara Qairina and also refuted reports of fundraising for legal costs.
The Education Ministry said it had lodged more than 10 police reports over misleading online content, citing fears of public harassment towards teachers and students.