KOTA KINABALU: The mother of the late Zara Qairina Mahathir has appealed for all solidarity gatherings under the #JusticeForZara movement to be put on hold.
This is until the ongoing inquest into her daughter’s death is completed.
In a heartfelt Facebook post under the handle Noie AiDA, Noraidah Lamat thanked the public for their prayers, support and contributions.
She said the presence and solidarity shown so far had greatly strengthened her family.
However, she urged organisers to temporarily suspend rallies to avoid the risk of disrupting court proceedings.
“I humbly request that any gatherings be postponed until the inquest concludes, so that full attention can be given to the court process.
“I am worried that participants may unintentionally interfere with the proceedings,” she said in her posting on Saturday (Sept 13).
Her appeal was accompanied by a joint media statement issued by her team of lawyers, who echoed her concerns.
The lawyers said six witnesses had testified before the Coroner’s Court so far and that they were satisfied with the progress.
They expressed gratitude for the solidarity rallies and public donations which had helped fund the appointment of expert witnesses for the inquest.
At the same time, they raised concern over reports that several individuals had been arrested and charged in relation to speeches delivered during gatherings or comments posted on social media linked to the movement.
“We and our client do not want Zara’s name or the slogan Justice for Zara to be tainted by the irresponsible actions of certain parties,” the statement read.
The lawyers said they believed all forms of gatherings should be postponed until the inquest concluded.
This aligns with Noraidah’s wishes.
“We urge everyone to be cautious when making comments on social media regarding the proceedings and the evidence presented.
“This is crucial to avoid the risk of sub judice and disruption to the inquest,” they added.
They assured supporters that solidarity events could continue once the inquest is over, stressing the importance of allowing the judicial process to run its course.
“With patience and trust in the justice system, the truth will surface and justice will prevail,” the statement concluded.
The joint statement, dated Sept 13, was signed by lawyers Rizwandean M Borhan, Shahlan Jufri, Mohd Syarulnizam Mohd Salleh, Mohd Luqman Syazwan Zabidi, Farrah Nasser and Elhanan James.
Zara was found unconscious on the ground floor of her hostel on July 16.
She was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, about 40km away, for treatment.
She however succumbed to a severe head injury the following day.
Public concern over possible elements of bullying and foul play prompted the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) to order Zara’s body exhumed in early August for a post-mortem.
Her remains were reburied after the procedure.
On Aug 13, the AGC announced that a full inquest would be held to establish the circumstances surrounding her death.
This decision came after police investigations and separate charges were brought against five teenagers for allegedly bullying Zara prior to the incident.
Their cases are ongoing but are distinct from the inquest.
The inquest, presided over by Sessions Court judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan sitting as coroner, began on Sept 3 at the Kota Kinabalu Coroner’s Court.
It has been scheduled to run for 19 days throughout September.
So far, the court has heard testimony from forensic experts, a pathologist and the school’s security guard.
This included evidence suggesting that Zara’s fall was unlikely to have been a simple accident.
The proceedings are expected to continue with more witnesses, including medical personnel and school staff.
The court seeks to determine how and why the teenager fell to her death.
