Death of Zara Qairina Mahathir

On 16 July 2025, at approximately 3 a.m., Zara Qairina binti Mahathir, a Form 1 student at Tun Datu Mustapha Islamic National Secondary School in Papar, Sabah, was found unconscious near a drain at the girls' dormitory. There were no witnesses to the incident, although most other students were reportedly awake at the time. She was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital the following morning and placed on life support due to a coma with severe injuries, including broken arms and legs. The hospital withdrew life support the next day due to lack of brain function, and she was buried at her family's residence in Kampung Kalamauh Mesapol, Sipitang District.

A police report was filed shortly after Zara was found, and speculation about bullying began circulating on social media soon afterward. Her family later reported to police that the school principal allegedly sought to prevent initial reporting of her death. A former principal, accused of being connected to a deputy minister, denied any involvement, stating she had left the position months earlier. In late July, a viral social media post alleged that Zara's death was orchestrated by bullies connected to political figures; this was denied by her mother, police, and the Sabah state government. By early August, around 60 witnesses had been interviewed by police.

On 3 August, Zara's mother, Noraidah Lamat, filed a further police report after bruises were discovered on the body during funeral preparation, and her lawyer called for exhumation and a post-mortem. Lawyers also alleged that police had not collected Zara's clothing for forensic examination. On 8 August, the Attorney General of Malaysia ordered the exhumation of Zara's grave, which was carried out on 9 August under police supervision. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated the investigation would be conducted transparently.

At the inquest, forensic pathologist Jessie Hiu testified it was unlikely Zara's death resulted from an accidental fall or a push from a standing position, and that no drugs were detected in her liver via toxicology. However, the Coroner's Court of Kota Kinabalu reported that laboratory tests found the anti-seizure drug Phenytoin in her kidney tissue. The school's head of discipline stated that in March 2025, Zara had filed a complaint alleging she was sexually harassed by another student while sleeping in the dormitory.

On 20 August 2025, five teenage girls were charged in the Kota Kinabalu Children's Court with bullying-related offences under Section 507C(1) of the Penal Code, concerning threatening or insulting communications. All pleaded not guilty and were released on bail; a gag order protects their identities as minors. Authorities clarified this charge is separate from the ongoing inquest into her death, which began 3 September 2025. In May 2026, the inquest heard testimony from Zara's aunt describing extensive bruising and other injuries observed on the body. The case prompted parliamentary questions, public protests across Malaysia, and commentary on institutional accountability.