KOTA KINABALU: The Coroner’s Court hearing the inquest into the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir saw a tense moment when Coroner Judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan stood and left his bench after twice asking: “Am I not fair enough?” while questioning consultant psychiatrist Dr Wong Haw Huo.
The inquest was paused for 50 minutes before resuming.
The exchange took place yesterday while Dr Wong was being questioned by lawyer Datuk Ram Singh, counsel for a teenager charged in the bullying case involving Zara Qairina.
Ram asked Dr Wong to provide direct answers, including the cause of Zara Qairina’s fall and whether the teenager was alone before the incident.
Datuk Rizwandean M. Borhan, representing Zara Qairina’s mother, remarked that Ram’s questioning appeared harsh.
Judge Amir Shah said: “But this is an inquest, not a trial.”
Ram replied: “I’m not saying it’s a trial, Sir. I mean, let’s be fair to us. Let’s be fair.”
Judge Amir Shah asked: “Am I not fair? Am I not fair enough?”
Ram replied: “You are fair, Sir,”
Ram then said: “No, Sir. Let’s not get agitated with this. He (Dr Wong) is going round and round and explaining.”
After the pause, Ram apologised to the court, saying his remarks were not intended to question the fairness of the proceedings, Bernama reported.
Rizwandean also apologised.
Judge Amir Shah accepted the apologies but reminded counsel to remain professional throughout the inquest.
He also apologised, saying it was the first time in 21 years he had left the bench.
“I should also apologise to you all for bursting out, and this is the first time that I have walked out from the bench, with a little pain in my chest. Let’s not be emotional. Let’s be professional. That is the main aim for this inquest,” he said.
During the inquest, Dr Wong told the court that the last student to encounter Zara Qairina before the fall was regarded as important in assessing her mental state shortly before the incident.
He said interviewing the student would have enabled psychiatrists to better understand Zara Qairina’s conversation, appearance, speech, behaviour and emotional condition.
Such information was important in establishing her mental state.
Zara Qairina died at Hospital Queen Elizabeth on July 17, 2025, a day after she was found unconscious in a drain near her school hostel at about 4am.
