KOTA KINABALU: Innocent children could become collateral damage if social media is not used responsibly in the search for truth and justice in Zara Qairina Mahathir’s case.
Sabah Wanita MCA chief Datuk Dr Pamela Yong said she hopes a case as tragic as this should not be viewed or even be “leveraged” politically.
“As a mother of four, my heart is deeply troubled by the tragic and suspicious death of young Zara Qairina.
“Like many parents, I want nothing more than for the investigation to be thorough and transparent,” she said, adding that if foul play was indeed found, those responsible must be held accountable and punished to the fullest extent of the law.
Yong said this should serve both as justice for Zara Qairina and as a deterrent to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again.
At the same time, her concern also extends to the physical safety and emotional well-being of the other children in the school including Zara Qairina’s close friends.
“They, too, are innocent young hearts trying to process their grief and confusion.
“We must remember that while social media can be a powerful tool for awareness, it can also cause immense harm if used irresponsibly,” said Yong.
She said in the search for justice, it was necessary to resist the urge to take matters into one’s own hands or to spread unverified information.
“Rumours and speculation can hurt not only adults, but also children who may be entirely innocent, and in some cases, they can become collateral damage to our anger,” she said.
In calling for the public to allow the police and authorities to do their work with integrity, Yong said justice for Zara Qairina must be pursued, but in a way that does not cause further harm to other children who are already hurting.
“Our compassion must extend to all the young lives touched by this tragedy,” she added.
Zara Qairina died a day after she was found lying unconscious below her hostel building at SMA Tun Datu Mustafa in Papar, on July 16.
