KOTA KINABALU: A psychiatric assessment of Zara Qairina Mahathir’s mother was crucial in gaining a fuller understanding of the communication, emotional bond and parenting dynamics between mother and daughter, the Coroner’s Court was told on Friday (June 26).
Consultant psychiatrist Dr Wong Haw Huo said that without assessing Zara Qairina’s mother, Noraidah Lamat, significant insights into their relationship and the support system available to the teenager could have been overlooked.
"In my professional opinion, if a doctor did not assess Zara Qairina’s mother, important information regarding their communication style and whether there was an emotional connection and affection between the mother and her children would be missing,” he said during the inquest before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan.
Dr Wong said the assessment was also necessary to determine whether Noraidah had the capacity to provide guidance and structured emotional support when Zara Qairina encountered challenges either at school or at home.
"Without assessing the parents, there is a greater risk of bias because every family has different parenting approaches,” he added.
He was responding to questions from counsel Shahlan Jufri, representing Noraidah.
Dr Wong told the court that children and adolescents are still undergoing physical and emotional development and therefore require secure attachment figures, whether from the father, mother or both parents.
Referring to his psychiatric evaluation of Noraidah, Dr Wong described her as initially composed and attempting to remain emotionally resilient despite the loss of her daughter.
According to him, Noraidah spoke about her difficult upbringing and experiences of hardship, which helped clinicians better understand her parenting style and relationship with Zara Qairina.
He said those experiences appeared to influence the way she raised her daughter, including encouraging resilience and offering advice intended to help Zara Qairina become emotionally stronger and more independent.
Dr Wong said Noraidah became emotional only towards the end of the interview session.
"Towards the final part of the interview, Zara’s mother cried for the first time. She repeatedly apologised and said, ‘Sorry, Doctor, I shouldn’t cry,’ because she missed her daughter,” he told the court.
He added that her reaction suggested a tendency to suppress emotions as a coping mechanism developed through past hardship.
When asked whether Noraidah loved her daughter, Dr Wong said findings from the interview, together with supporting materials including audio recordings, videos, home decorations and written documents, reflected a consistent pattern of care, involvement and structured guidance.
He added that their relationship also demonstrated trust, noting that mother and daughter frequently communicated, shared daily experiences and enjoyed light-hearted moments together.
Dr Wong further testified that both Zara Qairina and Noraidah appeared to practise faith-based coping mechanisms and shared values centred on perseverance and endurance.
Zara Qairina died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on July 17, 2025, a day after she was found unconscious in a drain near her school dormitory at about 4am.
The Attorney General’s Chambers subsequently ordered the exhumation of her remains for a post-mortem examination on Aug 8 before announcing a formal inquest into her death on Aug 13.
The inquest continues on July 13. – Bernama
