KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor, along with his wife, Datin Seri Panglima Datuk Hajah Juliah Salag met with the mother of the late Zara Qairina Mahathir, Noraidah Lamat at Sri Gaya today to convey their condolences and deep sympathy.
The meeting was also attended by members of the Welfare Association of Sabah StateAssemblymens’ Wives (Mutiara GRS)“On behalf of the State Government, I express my deepest sympathy and condolences to the family of the deceased.
We pray that the family will be given strength to face thischallenge,” said Hajiji.
He said that at the outset and as proof that the state government was concerned about this issue, he had directed the minister responsible for the Sabah education portfolio, Datuk Dr. Haji Mohd. Arifin Mohd. Arif, and the State Assemblyman for Kawang, Dato’ Sri Ghulamhaidar Khan Bahadar to visit the late Zara while she was still receiving treatment atthe hospital.
Hajiji said the wave of solidarity #JusticeforZara initiated by netizens demanding justice for the victim is commendable, but the public should avoid making unwarranted speculations.
“We leave it to the police and other relevant authorities to conduct the investigation and hope this can be completed as soon as possible,” he added.
Meanwhile, Juliah expressed understanding of a mother’s feelings who has lost a beloved child.
“The safety of children, especially boarding school students, must be prioritized to prevent tragedies like this from recurring,” she said.
The late Zara Qairina, a Form 1 student at the Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama (SMKA) Tun Datu Mustapha, Papar, passed away on July 17 after being found unconscious near her dormitory—a shocking incident that has led to calls for tightened student safety measures. – pr/BNN
