KOTA KINABALU: The Coroner's Court here has been told that teachers from SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha were under immense stress and afraid to go out in public following intense social media "attacks" by netizens over the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir.
Asni Marjan, 56, a former student affairs senior assistant at the school, said the barrage of criticism and online hostility had led several teachers to delete their Facebook accounts, while some became fearful of going to shopping malls, shops or even the market.
"Among the teachers, I am the oldest. My role is to comfort them. They face netizens every day. I constantly try to motivate them. I have never cried in front of them… but here, I cry," he said while wiping away tears.
Asni, who has been posted to the Papar Education Office since October, said teachers had been subjected to baseless, wild and slanderous allegations online.
The 57th witness, who is set to retire in January 2026, said this in response to questioning by lawyer Shahlan Jufry, representing Zara Qairina's mother, before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan.
Zara Qairina was confirmed dead at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on July 17, a day after she was found unconscious in a drain near her school dormitory. – Bernama
