KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition MPs demand that the authorities provide a detailed explanation for why a post-mortem examination was not carried out immediately in the case of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir’s death.
Perikatan Nasional chief whip Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Baru) questioned the police’s procedure in the case.
“I want to ask the police, according to procedures… Whenever a person dies, a burial permit is required (before the body can be buried).
“However, in a mysterious tragedy such as this, the police permitted the body to be buried without any post-mortem,” he said, while debating the 13th Malaysia Plan, in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Aug 12).
“I wish to emphasise that a post-mortem should be conducted without any request from any party, as this is standard procedure in sudden death or sudden death report cases,” added the PAS MP.
Takiyuddin said that the decision made by the Attorney-General’s Chambers to return police investigation papers with instructions for them to complete the probe indicates that their investigation was incomplete.
The PAS secretary-general then called for the Home and Education ministers to present a detailed report on the case to the Dewan Rakyat.
On Aug 8, the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) instructed the police to immediately exhume and conduct a post-mortem on the late Zara Qairina.
This follows the completion of the analysis of the full preliminary report.
On Aug 11, a federal police task force comprising nine personnel from the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department would take over the investigation into the death of Zara Qairina.
The team, comprising both officers and rank-and-file personnel, has been deployed to Sabah.
Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah (PN-Indera Mahkota) questioned whether there should be a separate probe on the weaknesses before the takeover by the Bukit Aman.
“There must be a conclusive probe to identify who is involved or has given orders, either directly or indirectly, to the police, and the type of punishment if there are any mistakes made,” said Saifuddin.
Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee (PN-Beluran) also agreed, saying that there was a blatant disregard for the process and procedures involved in the case.
“This has created a perception as if there is a cover-up.
“The outcry made by the public must be considered,” he said.
Zara Qairina was pronounced dead at a hospital in Sabah on July 17, a day after she reportedly fell from the third floor of her school dormitory.
Her tragic death went viral and sparked mass reactions on social media, which included widespread allegations that she was a victim of bullying.
