Selangor PAS Youth chief Sukri Omar has urged the government to install closed-circuit TV systems at all boarding schools to ensure student safety.
Speaking at the “Justice for Zara” gathering here today, he said the death of Form 1 student Zara Qairina Mahathir at a school hostel in Sabah had highlighted serious gaps in the safety of children at boarding schools.
“The education ministry needs to be accountable for this incident,” said Sukri. “Nobody is above the law, and those responsible for Zara’s death should be punished.”
Zara died in hospital a day after she was found unconscious at 4am on July 16, allegedly after falling from the third floor of her school’s hostel in Papar, Sabah.
Police said a task force investigation had uncovered elements suggesting that Zara may have been a victim of bullying before her death.
Hundreds of participants gathered in front of the Sogo shopping complex in Kuala Lumpur for the rally in solidarity over Zara’s death. A police estimate put the attendance at 150-200 people. Many wore black clothes, held placards and wore headbands saying “Justice for Zara” and “stop bullying”.
The gathering was organised by a group of 100 Malay-Muslim NGOs aimed to show continued moral support and unity for Zara and her family. The organisers also called for justice to be pursued at the highest level.
The gathering which lasted for about three hours, ended at 11pm.
Last week, Zara’s body was exhumed on the order of the Attorney-General’s Chambers, to allow for a post-mortem. An inquest has also been ordered to be held, to determine the cause of death and whether there were criminal elements involved.
On Wednesday, Bukit Aman criminal investigation department director M Kumar said the officer in charge of investigating Zara’s death failed to follow proper procedure by not requesting a post-mortem – which was required as the death occurred under suspicious circumstances.
He said the post-mortem results were consistent with the initial diagnosis that Zara died from brain injuries caused by a fall.
