A Sabah assemblyman has accused Warisan president Shafie Apdal of “crossing the line” by alleging that Zara Qairina Mahathir was murdered even as an inquest into the teenager’s death is being held.
Kunak assemblyman Norazlinah Arif said: “Zara’s case is still going through the court process. To say such things is not just insensitive, but also insults the legal process.”
She said in a statement that Shafie had crossed the line politically, and urged him to be more respectful of Zara’s family and the court.
Shafie had reportedly questioned the lengthy time taken for the inquest, according to a video clip of a dinner that has been circulating. In the video Shafie is heard saying: “The girl has died. She was not bullied, it was a murder. How many times has Bukit Aman questioned the witnesses? They have questioned the same people.”
Norazlinah told Shafie to “take a rest”, claiming he had become directionless lately in his political speeches.
“The Warisan president’s speeches have strayed further from the truth, disturbing the public and causing confusion. The public today are smarter. They do not want empty speeches that reek of hatred, and people who only bark without contributing anything,” she said.
Zara, 13, died in hospital on July 17, a day after she was found unconscious at 4am in a drain near her school. On Aug 13, the Attorney-General’s Chambers ordered that an inquest be held after reviewing the investigation report submitted by the police.
