KOTA KINABALU: The Education Ministry has to look into whether there is a need to bring the school principal or state Education director to court over the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir, says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) said it was not for her to comment as the matter was still in court and it would be subjudice.
“But nevertheless I believe in our country, there are a lot of laws out there and I think you have to leave it to the system, especially the ministry, to look into it,” she said after launching the Justice of Wheels Van in Putatan near here, Tuesday (Aug 26).
Azalina said this when asked about calls for the school principal and state Education director to be held accountable over how the case was first handled.
Social media users are still unhappy over how the matter is being dealt with and are questioning why the school management, including its principal, hostel wardens and teachers, were not held accountable.
They are also asking why the Sabah Education Department was keeping mum.
“I can’t say much because I don’t have enough facts,” Azalina stressed.
On July 16, Zara, 13, was found unconscious below her hotel building in Papar and died a day later at the hospital.
She was quickly buried and the case seemed to quiet down but later received more traction after her family and netizens cried foul over the circumstances of her death, which was initially quick to be classified as sudden death, and without a post mortem conducted.
It was only after public outcry for justice for Zara and application from her family counsel Hamid Ismail to exhume her body and for an inquest to be conducted, that the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) stepped in that things turned serious.
Three senior cops were later investigated, while some 195 people have been interrogated so far.
Nationwide, a solidarity movement comprising peaceful assemblies were also held.
An inquest is scheduled to start on Sept 3 while five girls were charged for hurling abusive words against Zara on Aug 20.
Earlier at the event, Azalina said it was important for students, teachers and parents to know their legal rights and have adequate knowledge about rights and responsibilities.
Take sexual offences against children, she said, where there is a Section 19 in the Act which mandates one to report to the police if they know of any such incidents.
“So, if you do not know your rights, then how can you expect laws that are drawn up, no matter how good they are, to be implemented effectively?,” she asked.
