Zara Often Ridiculed Body Shamed And Ostracized Witness

---

 


KOTA KINABALU (Oct 28): A witness told the Coroner’s Court here on Tuesday that the late Zara Qairina Mahathir was often ridiculed and experienced ‘body shaming’.
The 24th child witness also revealed on the 29th day of the inquest proceedings into the teenager’s death before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan on Tuesday, that Zara had told her that she was frequently mocked about her behavior and physical appearance, and even her father’s name was used as a subject of ridicule by dormitory students.
In a statement, counsel Joan Goh explained that throughout the witness’ friendship and living in the same dormitory as Zara, the witness said she herself had seen Zara being ridiculed and ostracized by other students.
“The witness also heard almost every day Zara being ridiculed and body shamed about her body shape by Form One students, but the witness did not know the individuals concerned, saying “You’re so fat”. Zara just said “Yeah, whatever” while laughing.
“The witness, who was the 33rd deponent, also saw male students in the same class as Zara mocking her by shouting and calling Zara “Mahathir’s daughter, Mahathir’s daughter”. This happened every day.
“Zara never got angry at being treated like that, but the witness saw that she would write and express what she felt in her diary. The witness did not know who else often mocked and body shamed Zara besides what the witness has stated before,” said Goh.
Goh further said that the witness said Zara was a cheerful and happy person.
“She never showed that she was under pressure or felt stress. Zara always told the witness that she had been ostracized by several school friends who were Form One to Five students but Zara did not care and did not bother about all the friends’ taunts,” Goh added.
Goh said that the witness also testified about an incident that occurred around March 2025 when the witness said that when inviting Zara to sleep in her dorm, they talked about their primary school days.
“Zara told the witness that she had cut her own hand. The witness initially did not believe it, but Zara then showed the scars on her hand, and the witness saw two to three old cut marks.
“The witness did not ask why Zara did that. Zara only said that when she was in primary school, she felt stress because she was ostracized. Zara did say that what if she does it again, then the witness advised her not to do it again,” said Goh.
Meanwhile, the 23rd child witness, who is also a member of the Da’wah and Spiritual Body (Badar) at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Tun Datu Mustapha, Papar, told the Coroner’s Court that she was aware that other students mocked Zara Qairina of “Sok Sok Badar” (pretending to be Badar).
The witness is a senior student and also a hostel resident in the same hostel block as Zara Qairina.
Sharing the testimony of the child witness, lawyer Rizwandean M Borhan, who is representing Zara Qairina’s mother, said the witness told the court that the teasing began when Zara Qairina started recording the names of students who did not perform prayers, although no one had instructed the Form One student to do so.
“The witness said she would remain silent and never told Zara Qairina to stop writing down the names,” Rizwandean told reporters after the proceedings.
The lawyer said the witness explained that the duties of Badar members are to manage the dakwah and surau programmes, as well as religious-related programmes, including questioning students who failed to perform their prayers, and recording the names of students who did not give valid reasons.
He added that the witness said she recognised Zara Qairina as a junior staying in the same hostel block, though not in the same room, and often met the teenager at the hostel, surau and school around April, in addition to stating that Zara Qairina wanted to be friends with her.
The witness also described Zara Qairina as a good, cheerful and friendly person who often smiled, greeted others and respected the senior students, adding that even she (the witness) liked being friends with her, though they were not close.
“According to the witness, Zara Qairina once wished her ‘good luck’ before July 16 as she (the witness) was involved in a hockey tournament,” said Rizwandean, adding that the witness recalled teaching Zara Qairina the Arabic language after Zara sought her help.
Zara Qairina, 13, was confirmed dead at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kota Kinabalu, on July 17, a day after being found unconscious in a drain near her school hostel at 4 am on July 16.
The inquest proceedings will continue on Oct 29. - Borneo Post

---