KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Law Society (SLS) will closely monitor the inquest and any subsequent legal proceedings into the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir, in the public interest.
SLS president Datuk Mohamed Nazim Maduarin said they welcomed the Attorney-General’s Chambers’ (A-GC) decision to direct an inquest under Section 339(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
An inquest is an independent judicial process that will examine the cause and circumstances of death, determine whether any criminal elements were involved, and ensure that all relevant facts are brought to light.
Zara, 13, was found unconscious at her school, SMKA Tun Mustapha in Papar on July 16 and declared dead the following day at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital here.
“Our commitment is clear: justice must be done, and it must be seen to be done because when our children are not safe, nothing else matters.
“The findings of the inquest will form the basis for the A-GC to decide whether prosecutions should be initiated.
“We remind the public that whether or not prosecutions follow will ultimately depend on these findings and the sufficiency of evidence in law.
“This sequence is essential to preserve the integrity of the justice process,” he said in a statement.
Mohamed also said SLS would like to remind everyone that bullying, whether physical, verbal, psychological, or online, has no place in any environment, least of all in schools.
He added SLS through its Community Empowerment and Protection Subcommittee, which leads their initiatives on bullying prevention and response, will work with all stakeholders in Sabah to create safer educational environments.
He said the recent amendments to the Penal Code (Sections 507B–G) represent a critical step forward in combating such conduct, criminalising a wide range of abusive behaviours and imposing serious penalties where they cause harm, including attempted or completed suicide.
“However, this legislative change must be matched by consistent enforcement, effective preventive measures, and a cultural and paradigm shift in how institutions address complaints.”
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
