KOTA KINABALU: Some students did not warm up to 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir because she kept a list of those who skipped congregational prayers, the Coroner’s Court heard at the inquest into her death.
A Form One student, identified as Child Witness 7, testified that Zara Qairina was otherwise cheerful and talkative, often greeting others and making friends easily.
She also once revealed her ambition of becoming a badar (religious prefect).
“Child Witness 7 said some students did not like the late Zara Qairina because she wrote down the names of those who did not attend prayers,” said Rizwandean M. Borhan, counsel for the deceased’s mother, Noraidah Lamat.
He was briefing reporters as the proceedings were held in camera to protect the identity of the child witnesses.
He said the witness also recalled the night of July 15, when Zara Qairina came to her dormitory room at about 10.20pm to meet a senior.
“Zara Qairina came into the room, closed the door, gave salam and asked permission to enter. She then walked to the end of the room, sat cross-legged on the floor near a locker and appeared fearful.
“Soon after, four seniors entered. One of them shouted at Zara Qairina and the witness heard a harsh word being said. Another scolded her lightly. The witness said the atmosphere was tense, using the word ‘garang’ (fierce) to describe it. No one in the room dared to intervene while Zara Qairina cried,” Rizwandean said, recounting what the witness said.
At the same time, one of Zara Qairina’s roommates checked her locker and found a Malaysia flag pin belonging to another student, which was believed to have sparked the confrontation.
Meanwhile, Datuk Ram Singh, counsel for Student A, who is jointly charged with four other teenage girls for using offensive words on Zara Qairina, said Child Witness 8, the 16th to testify, recalled a troubling remark Zara Qairina made in April this year.
“She asked, ‘If I jumped from the third floor, would you be sad?’ The witness replied, ‘Why do you say such things, it is not good’, after which Zara Qairina kept quiet.
“It is sad for someone to have such thoughts. This is a serious remark that cannot be ignored,” Ram said.
He said the court also heard that although Zara Qairina was assigned the top bunk, she often chose to sleep on the floor with only a carpet.
“Child Witness 8 explained that Zara Qairina walked back to her room in tears that night and lay down on the carpet to sleep. This, she said, was common for Zara Qairina, who did not like using a blanket and often preferred the floor instead of her bed.
“She (Zara Qairina) did not like tidying her bed, so she would rather sleep on the carpet. In her dorm, bedsheets had to be kept straight and neat at all times,” said Ram’s colleague, Joan Goh.
The inquest resumes on Oct 7.
