Public urged to remain calm as police probe teen student's death in Papar
Published on: Mon, Jul 28, 2025 Text Size: KOTA KINABALU: Following the recent passing of a 13-year-old student, the public is urged to remain calm and avoid speculation while investigations are ongoing. The student, Zara Qairina from SMS Tun Datu Mustafa Limauan, was found unconscious in a drain near her hostel in Papar around 4am on July 16. She was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu and was later pronounced dead on July 17 at about 1pm. Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun, on Monday, said that the police is conducting a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident. Police are working to determine the exact cause and circumstances surrounding the tragedy. Members of the public are advised not to spread unverified information out of respect for the grieving family. Anyone with relevant information is encouraged to contact the Papar District Police Headquarters at 088-912222 or visit the nearest police station. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Express
10 hours ago
- Daily Express
4 students detained over assault of classmate
Published on: Friday, August 01, 2025 Published on: Fri, Aug 01, 2025 By: Bernama Text Size: A viral video captured the complainant being assaulted by two of the four students involved. Kuala Lumpur: Four 13-year-old students have been detained by the police to assist in investigations into the assault of a classmate at a shopping centre in Kajang. Kajang police chief Naazron Abdul Yusof said the boys were detained following a report lodged by their classmate at 12.57pm yesterday. He said investigations found that the incident occurred at about 11am on July 30, when the complainant and his classmates went to the shopping centre to address a disagreement. 'During the incident, a viral video captured the complainant being assaulted by two students, while two others recorded the act on their mobile phones,' he said in a statement. Naazron added that the victim received medical treatment at a nearby hospital, where he was confirmed to have sustained minor facial injuries. The four students involved were arrested in Kajang at 8.35pm yesterday and remanded for two days until Aug 2 to assist in investigations. The case is being investigated under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt, Section 506 of the same law for criminal intimidation, and Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955. Naazron advised students to obey school rules and to avoid actions that could affect their future. Those with information on the incident can contact the investigating officer, Shahrulhasram Ramli, at 017-2530380 or visit the nearest police station. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
14 hours ago
- Daily Express
Lawyers question probe into Zara's death, lack of post-mortem
Published on: Friday, August 01, 2025 Published on: Fri, Aug 01, 2025 Text Size: KOTA KINABALU: Noraidah Lamat, the mother of the late Zara Qairina Mahathir, has raised serious concerns over the investigation into Zara's death at her Papar school dormitory on July 17, highlighting the lack of a post-mortem and delays in police updates. 'Our client does not believe Zara took her own life. She believes there are criminal elements involved,' her counsel Hamid Ismail and Shahlan Jufri said in a statement. They revealed that Zara had confided in her mother about bullying by senior students, including one who allegedly said: "If I touch you, you'll bleed." The family claims to receive no updates from police between July 17 and 27. 'This silence worries our client. It gives the impression that the police did not investigate the death,' they added. Police only issued a short statement on July 28, and on July 31, it was disclosed that 60 individuals had been called in for questioning. On July 30, Noraidah filed a supplementary police report in Sipitang urging a thorough probe and revealed that school authorities had advised her not to lodge a report. The lawyers also questioned the claim that Zara fell from the third floor noting her face showed no injuries, bruises, or wounds typically associated with a fall from such height. Despite these circumstances, no post-mortem was conducted before Zara was buried. The lawyers have since written to the State Attorney General's Office, urging an inquest under Section 339(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code and requesting Zara's body be exhumed to determine the true cause of death. The firm also dismissed online allegations blaming the mother, calling them false and malicious. They urged the public not to spread defamatory claims and encouraged anyone with relevant information to come forward. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Malay Mail
14 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Sepanggar MP rejects claim linking wife to Zara Qairina's death, calls it baseless
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1 — Sepanggar MP Datuk Mustapha Sakmud has firmly denied claims linking his wife to the recent death of 13-year-old student Zara Qairina Mahathir, calling the allegation baseless and unbecoming of a Muslim lawmaker. He was responding to remarks made by Kota Bharu MP Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan during a Dewan Rakyat debate, which Mustapha said were misleading and unfairly targeted someone no longer in public service. 'These claims not only confuse the public, but also damage the reputation of an individual who retired from government service months ago,' he said in a statement today. Mustapha, who is also deputy minister of higher education, clarified that his wife, Datin Rosnih Nasir, was formerly the principal of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama (SMKA) Tun Datu Mustapha Limauan in Papar. She served at the school from March 20 to November 22, 2024 before retiring from the education sector. 'Since then, she has had no involvement in the school's administration or operations,' he added. He stressed that the incident involving Zara Qairina occurred on July 16 to 17, 2025, nearly eight months after his wife's retirement. 'Linking her to the incident is baseless and amounts to political manipulation,' he said. He urged all parties to verify information before making public accusations and not to exploit the tragedy for political purposes. 'Respect the ongoing investigation by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and stop spreading false claims that can harm the reputation and emotional wellbeing of innocent individuals,' he said. Mustapha also offered his condolences to Zara Qairina's family, expressing hopes that justice would be served. Earlier, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun said investigations were ongoing into the death of a female student at a school in Papar. The Form One student was believed to have fallen from the third floor of her hostel building. Zara Qairina was found critically injured around 3am on July 16 and was rushed to Queen Elizabeth I Hospital for treatment, where she later died.
