Zara's father last saw her in 2017, inquest told
KOTA KINABALU: The father of the late Zara Qairina Mahathir told the Coroner’s Court today that the last time he saw his daughter was in 2017 in Sipitang.
KOTA KINABALU: The father of Zara Qairina Mahathir recounted to the Coroner's Court that he last saw his daughter in 2017 in Sipitang. The witness, 45-year-old Mahathir Mohd Hashim, stated he had not resided with Zara and her mother since that time due to personal conflicts with her mother. He continued to communicate with Zara via phone calls and WhatsApp messages after their separation.
Zara's father, who married Zara's mother, Noraidah Lamat, in his second marriage, recalled Zara as a cheerful child who adored the beach and sea. He also mentioned that he occasionally visited Sipitang to see her and her mother, although financial constraints limited his ability to do so more frequently. Upon receiving a WhatsApp notification from Zara's mother on July 16, 2025, Mahathir alerted his father and they searched Sipitang Hospital first, as they believed Zara was attending school there.
However, Zara was not found there, leading them to investigate Beaufort Hospital, where she was confirmed not to be admitted. Mahathir ultimately discovered Zara at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where she was found unconscious the following day and later pronounced dead.
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