‘Cheerful, strong, never gave up’: Mother rejects claim Zara Qairina jumped from school building

KOTA KINABALU, October 9 — In the inquest into Zara Qairina Mahathir's death at the Coroner's Court, her mother, Noraidah Lamat, expressed doubt over the claim that her daughter jumped from the third floor of the school building. She described Zara as cheerful, strong, and unwilling to give up, even in the face of provocation. The taunts, bullying, and name-calling Zara faced while staying at the hostel were the basis of the "provocation" mentioned.

Noraidah also stated that she never noticed any change in her daughter's behavior before the incident and that their phone conversations showed her daughter was cheerful and excited, even mentioning a 'Kak Badar' named Wana who wanted to meet her. She expressed frustration with the police for not providing clear information about the investigation and was unaware of the nationwide fundraising campaign under the Justice for Zara (JFZ) initiative.

Zara Qairina was found unconscious near a drain at her school hostel and died the following day, July 17, 2025.