I never met Zara, stepsister tells court
Malianah Mahathir says her testimony concerning unpleasant experiences she endured involved Zara Qairina Mahathir's mother, not the deceased herself.
Zara Qairina Mahathir passed away at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on July 17, 2025, just a day after being discovered unconscious near a school hostel drain. Her stepsister, Malianah Mahathir, testified in coroner's court that she had no direct experience with Zara's upbringing or mother. Malianah, 25, learned about Zara's life primarily through social media and her father.
She admitted to never having met or interacted with Zara personally. When asked if Zara's mother treated her poorly, Malianah confirmed there were no such incidents. She initially reported being happy with her new stepmother but acknowledged her testimony was about Zara's mother, not Zara herself. The inquest proceedings will continue with additional witnesses.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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