Cover-up or tragic fall? Malaysia wants answers after student’s death

Rumours of a cover-up have spread like wildfire online. But for Zara Qairina Mahathir’s grieving family, the questions are all too real

When Zara Qairina Mahathir’s body was found in a drain outside her school dormitory in Malaysia last month, the official explanation only prompted more questions, both from her grieving family and many others.

The 13-year-old was pronounced dead on July 17, a day after she had been found unconscious outside her Islamic school’s dormitory building in Sabah’s Papar district.

Preliminary police findings suggested she fell from the third floor of her school building, but the precise circumstances surrounding her death remain unclear – fuelling suspicions of a cover-up and prompting a categorical denial from the state governor’s office regarding any alleged involvement.

Her family have accused authorities of rushing to close the case, noting that no postmortem examination was conducted. This omission has not only deepened their grief, but also intensified speculation online about possible foul play.

Rumours of bullying and allegations of high-level interference have swept social media, with unverified claims that influential figures sought to obscure the truth. State officials have firmly denied such accusations.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim addressed the speculation during a visit to Sabah, emphasising the importance of the rule of law.

“We must remember, this country is a country of law, not a country of slander; whoever is involved, it doesn’t matter who – Tan Sri, Datuk Seri, minister – if involved in the crime of murder will not be given protection,” Anwar said, referencing Malaysian honorific titles.

He said he had spoken directly with the inspector general of police and called for a thorough and expedited investigation, adding that Zara’s death was not to be “taken lightly”.

The previous day, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution told reporters that police had completed their investigation and forwarded the case file to the prosecutor’s office.

“I expect the police will submit the papers to the Attorney General’s Chambers by next week at the latest,” Saifuddin said.

Anwar’s comments followed a rebuke from the office of Sabah governor Musa Aman, which condemned rumours circulating online linking his family to Zara’s death as “unfounded, irresponsible and defamatory”.

“[The governor’s office] asks the public not to spread unverified and defamatory information,” Musa’s office said in a statement on Friday.

We are of the opinion that the investigation papers that were sent to the Attorney General’s Chambers are incompleteHamid Ismail, lawyer for Zara Qairina Mahathir’s family

Yet for Zara’s family, troubling questions persist. Their lawyer, Hamid Ismail, has pointed to apparent lapses in the investigation, including officers’ failure to collect the teenager’s clothes and personal items in a departure from standard operating procedures.

“The police’s failure to do so raises serious questions as to whether their investigation is only focused on sudden death or suicide,” Hamid said.

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The family’s unease deepened during Zara’s burial rituals, when her mother, Noraidah Lamat, noticed bruises on her daughter’s back – marks she believes were caused by blows from a blunt object.

Convinced that foul play cannot be ruled out, the family have called for Zara’s grave to be exhumed so that a postmortem examination can finally establish the cause of death.

“We are of the opinion that the investigation papers that were sent to the Attorney General’s Chambers are incomplete, not comprehensive and have a very narrow focus,” Hamid said.

“Not to mention, no autopsy was performed on Zara’s body before her burial.”