Police will facilitate tonight’s “Justice for Zara” solidarity gathering outside the Sogo shopping complex in Kuala Lumpur, but participants have been warned against breaking the law.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Fadil Marsus told those intending to take part not to “take chances and commit acts outside the law”.
“We will accommodate and make things easier (for the participants). However, failure to comply with instructions will result in immediate action, and there is no compromise,” he said.
Dang Wangi police chief Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman said 40 police personnel will be deployed to monitor the rally.
He said the officers will be stationed along the route to ensure the safety of both the participants and the public.
“For now, there will be no road closures or diversions around the Sogo area, but this will depend on the situation,” he said.
Last week, hundreds of Sabahans gathered in several towns to demand justice for the death of Form 1 student Zara Qairina Mahathir.
A livestream on Sandakan MP Vivian Wong’s TikTok account showed a crowd outside Harbour Mall in her constituency, chanting “justice for Zara” and “murderer”.
Similar gatherings were held in Lahad Datu and Tawau, with more rallies in solidarity with Zara planned in other locations in the coming days.
Zara was found unconscious at 4am on July 16 after she allegedly fell from the third floor of her school’s hostel in Papar, Sabah. She died at the Queen Elizabeth I Hospital in Kota Kinabalu the next day.
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.
He said Zara’s death occurred under suspicious circumstances, in which a post-mortem was warranted.
Earlier, Zara’s body was exhumed, under orders from the Attorney-General’s Chambers, for a post-mortem to be carried out.
