LABUAN: The death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir has left a deep mark on the Labuan community, with more than 3,000 people joining a solidarity rally to demand justice for her.
The rally, held at the Labuan Food Court and coinciding with the Labuan Bike event, was organised by Kelab Wanita Sejahtera and led by Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Mohd Rafi Ali Hassan.
It drew a rare display of unity as local political leaders, including those from PKR and Warisan, took to the stage to deliver impassioned speeches calling for truth, justice and an end to violence against children.
Many participants wore black attire and carried placards bearing Zara Qairina’s name and slogans such as “Justice for Zara Qairina” and “Stop Bullying”, Bernama reported.
Mohd Rafi described the turnout as a powerful show of solidarity that transcended political and social lines.
“This is more than a political or social issue, it is a human one. We stand united in demanding justice for Zara,” he told the crowd.
Zara Qairina, a Form One student from Sipitang, died at Queen Elizabeth I Hospital in Kota Kinabalu on July 17.
She was rushed to the hospital after being found unconscious in a drain near the dormitory of a religious school in Papar around 4am on July 16.
In a significant development, the teenager’s body was exhumed late Saturday night for a post-mortem to assist ongoing police investigations into her death.
