KOTA KINABALU: A consultant psychiatrist told the Coroner's Court here on Thursday (July 16) that a child's vulnerability should not be assessed solely based on the absence of a father or mother, particularly in cases where family conflict exists.
Consultant psychiatrist Dr Wong Haw Huo said that greater emphasis should instead be placed on a child's psychological safety, including how the child perceives the home environment, the level of care and affection received, the quality of communication, and whether the child's basic needs are met.
"The ongoing interaction with the child is much more important than simply identifying the absence of a parent as a risk factor," he said during the inquest into the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir.
He was responding to a question from conducting officer Mohd Fairuz Johari on whether Zara Qairina would have been more vulnerable if conflict had arisen between her and her mother, Noraidah Lamat, following the absence of her father, Mahathir Hashim.
Dr Wong said that even where a child may have certain vulnerabilities, it does not necessarily mean the child will experience adverse outcomes later in life.
He said this is especially so if the primary caregiver continues to provide close supervision, appropriate guidance, emotional support, and helps the child develop the skills needed to interact with others and adapt to new environments independently.
Dr Wong also told the court there was no basis to question Noraidah's parenting abilities, noting that the information she had provided over the years was corroborated by other evidence, including photographs of Zara Qairina's academic and co-curricular achievements, as well as her detailed knowledge of her daughter's favourite foods and daily routines.
Earlier in the morning session, Dr Wong testified that Zara Qairina shared a strong foundation of trust with her mother, as evidenced by their frequent communication through text messages, phone calls and audio recordings.
During the afternoon proceedings, he further testified that despite having limited contact with her father after he left the family during her early childhood, Zara Qairina continued to speak positively about him to her primary school friends.
Zara Qairina died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on July 17, 2025, a day after she was found unconscious in a drain near her school hostel at about 4am.
The inquest before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan continues Friday (July 17). — Bernama
