KUALA LUMPUR: There were elements of bullying, neglect and even sexual harassment in the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir, the Home Minister has revealed.
Zara Qairina also wrote about her experiences at her school hostel in a diary, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said.
The diary, a 51-page document handed over by a teacher, contained personal accounts of her struggles and the issues she faced.
“The diary was a crucial part of the police investigations, complementing testimonies from friends who shared the same dormitory,” said Saifuddin Nasution.
The police have taken statements from 195 witnesses.
The diary was analysed by psychologists from Bukit Aman’s sexual, women, and children crime investigation division (D11).
“We know her last moments, where she was at 11pm and what happened at the dorm at 10pm.
“All this is corroborative evidence that we will put together. The psychologists will also establish her mental state during that time,” said Saifuddin Nasution.
“I want to state here clearly that there were indeed elements of bullying. That is clear,” he told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
“There were also elements of neglect, as Zara had lodged complaints with the school. And there were elements of sexual harassment, which are being investigated.”
“There must not be any attempt to conceal the truth, because schools are supposed to be safe spaces for our children,” he said.
Saifuddin Nasution said allegations that the case was being covered up or manipulated were “serious accusations” that did not reflect the actual process of investigation.
He reminded school administrations that any similar incidents must be brought forward and addressed promptly.
He said police had completed their investigation and handed over the papers to the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC). The police, he said, had opened 21 investigation papers.
The case will also be examined through a coroner’s inquest in Kota Kinabalu beginning Sept 3.
The Home Minister said the authorities acted swiftly at each stage, from medical response to the decision to exhume Zara Qairina’s remains for a second post-mortem after her mother raised concerns about bruises on the body.
He also said the Zara Qairina case will be the first bullying case to be investigated under the newly-introduced Section 507D of the Penal Code.
“The amendment was just gazetted in July and this is the first case. Before this, bullying was probed under Section 233 of the Penal Code,” Saifuddin Nasution said, adding the government is ready to consider the possibility of introducing a specific Act for bullying.
“I don’t think the government will be against it,” he added.
Section 507D was introduced recently in honour of Rajeswary Appahu, a cyberbullying victim who died by suicide last year.
Known as the “Esha Clause”, Section 507D criminalises any words or actions used to threaten, insult or defame with the intent to provoke self-harm or harm to others.
The penalty for such offences includes imprisonment for up to one year, a fine or both.
Meanwhile, Saifuddin Nasution revealed that police have detained a teacher who produced a TikTok video claiming Zara Qairina was killed by being put into a washing machine.
“When questioned, the English teacher said it was just to ‘make content’. Shockingly, the content was swallowed whole by many people,” he said.
Saifuddin Nasution said police had also investigated the spread of other false information on social media and fraudulent claims that encouraged street gatherings.
He acknowledged that the public demonstrations reflected frustration and a demand for swift action, but stressed that perpetrators who spread falsehoods or incited unrest would be brought to justice.
