KUALA LUMPUR: No individual will be shielded or protected in the case of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir as alleged by certain quarters, says the Education Ministry.
Its deputy minister Wong Kah Woh said with respect to incidents that occur, whether disciplinary cases or bullying in schools, the ministry has established clear guidelines and circulars that are enforced from time to time.
"The Education Ministry will not, and has never, attempted to protect anyone involved, contrary to certain claims that have been made by certain quarters," he said in reply to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal (Warisan-Semporna) during Ministers' Question Time.
Shafie wanted to know the concrete actions taken on the case of Zara Qairina and how the ministry plans to tackle the issue of bullying at schools
Wong stressed that at all levels and at all material times, the ministry remains ready to cooperate fully with the police and to assist in every aspect of the investigation into this case.
"In the case of Zara, we now know that the matter is under police investigation.
"This issue is currently being handled by the police, and the Education Ministry will leave it to the authorities to carry out their investigations," he said, adding that the ministry will not compromise on the issue related to bullying.
The lawyer representing the family of the late Zara Qairina said an inquest may be requested if the results of her post-mortem examination are deemed unsatisfactory by the family.
Lawyer Shahlan Jufri said a complete post-mortem report is not yet available, as the procedure was only completed at 7.30pm on Sunday (Aug 10) after beginning at 11am.
"The complete post-mortem report is not yet available. It still needs to be prepared," said Shahlan.
On Aug 8, the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) instructed the immediate exhumation and post-mortem of deceased Form One student Zara Qairina by the police.
Zara Qairina had been 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 tragic death went viral and sparked mass reactions on social media, which included widespread allegations of bullying.
