Chief Minister, Wife, Mutiara GRS Meet with Mother of the Late Zara Qairina

13 August 2025

KOTA KINABALU : Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor, together with his wife, Datin Seri Panglima Datuk Hajah Juliah Salag, met with Noraidah Lamat, the mother of the late Zara Qairina Mahathir, at Sri Gaya today to personally convey their condolences and heartfelt sympathy.

The meeting was also attended by members of the Welfare Association of Sabah State Assemblymen’s Wives (Mutiara GRS).

“On behalf of the State Government, I extend our deepest condolences to the family of the late Zara Qairina. We pray that they will be granted strength and fortitude during this difficult time,” said Hajiji.

He added that, as a mark of the State Government’s concern, he had earlier instructed the Minister overseeing the state’s education portfolio, Datuk Dr Haji Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif, along with the State Assemblyman for Kawang, Dato’ Sri Ghulamhaidar Khan Bahadar, to visit Zara while she was still receiving treatment in hospital.

Commenting on the public reaction to the tragedy, Hajiji acknowledged the wave of solidarity under the hashtag #JusticeForZara, initiated by netizens calling for accountability.

“The public’s concern and demand for justice is commendable. However, we urge everyone to refrain from making premature or baseless speculations. Let us allow the police and relevant authorities to carry out a thorough investigation, which we hope will be concluded swiftly,” he said.

Meanwhile, Datin Seri Juliah expressed her empathy, sharing a mother’s grief over the loss of a child.

“The safety of children, particularly those in boarding schools, must be given top priority to prevent such tragedies from happening again,” she emphasised.

The late Zara Qairina, a Form One student at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama (SMKA) Tun Datu Mustapha in Papar, passed away on 17 July after she was found unconscious near her dormitory. The incident has shocked the public and prompted renewed calls for stronger safety protocols in residential schools.