KOTA KINABALU: There were no attempts by staff of SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha to conceal the truth behind the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir, a witness told the Coroner’s Court today.
Chief warden Azhari Abd Sagap, who broke into tears during the inquest this afternoon, said he and school received severe backlash from the public despite their efforts in trying to save the 13-year-old girl on July 16, right to the end when she was buried in Sipitang the following day.
Azhari said he had also accompanied Zara Qairina and her mother to the hospital and had fully cooperated with the police and yet, he was among those accused of covering up the girl’s death.
“I did not try to protect Zara’s bully or killer. If I had wanted to protect (the bullies), I would not have told the police what happened on the night of the 15th. I was the one who dealt directly with the police.
“Whatever the police requested, whoever they wanted me to bring to Papar IPD (Papar district police headquarters), I compiled (evidences) and handed over the audio recording of ‘Kak M’. I was the one who identified her to the police.
Netizens had accused Kak M as being the bully after the audio recording had implied that Kak M bullied Zara Qairina.
The 31-year-old warden said Kak M was a good student and not the alleged girl whose picture had gone viral on social media.
“The accusations against the student are cruel. Just because she was the first to find Zara, people accused her.
“It was the same for me when I tried to save Zara that morning (July 16), I called 991 for an ambulance and followed her to the hospital. I stayed until the evening without even having a bath. Is this what I deserve? Should my school have to endure this?” he said.
Azhari said when the police was investigating if the audio recording was genuine, he was the one who explained it to the police.
The 31-year-old, who also taught Arabic and religious subjects, said the Kak M issue surfaced in May but there had been no complaints from Zara Qairina or her mother.
“That is my question. Why were there no complaints? Why was there no complaint from Zara? There should have been one from her mother, but there wasn’t. None at all.”
Azhari, who had worked at the school from 2020 until this year, said he felt moved because Zara Qairina had mentioned his subject in her diary.
“I once told my class, ‘If you don’t want to cover your aurat properly and wear hand socks, then you might as well throw stones at your father.’ After that, Zara started wearing white hand socks. I remember that.
“I too want justice but why is it that in trying to pursue justice, we are the ones who face threats?” he said.
The inquest will resume in the afternoon.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
