SANDAKAN: Thousands gathered in Sandakan and Tawau on Friday evening (Aug 8), demanding justice for 13-year-old Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir.
In Sandakan, the rally at Harbour Square drew crowds as early as 6pm. Participants carried banners, read poems and offered prayers for Zara Qairina, while several activists and local people’s representatives addressed the gathering.
One of the organisers, Mohamad Khadir Abdul Jalil, said the gathering was meant to express solidarity and sympathy for Zara Qairina.
“We only want the truth from the authorities and justice for Zara Qairina; that is our focus tonight,” he said, adding that the public should refrain from making defamatory or harmful remarks and allow the authorities to carry out their investigation in full.
In Tawau, the rally at the Chester Night Market roundabout saw people dressed in black as a show of solidarity. Participants held placards and chanted “Justice for Zara” and “Stop bullying” throughout the evening.
It was learned that similar gatherings were also held in Lahad Datu and Semporna on the same night, with events in other districts, including Sipitang, Papar, Ranau, Kundasang, Telupid, Kudat and Keningau scheduled over the coming days.
Earlier on Friday, the Attorney General’s Chambers announced that Zara Qairina’s grave would be exhumed for a second post-mortem. The AGC stated that it had returned the preliminary investigation report to the police, along with further instructions to proceed with the exhumation and ensure that all aspects of the probe are carried out thoroughly.
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 family believed that her death was linked to bullying.
