tags - Sinar Daily

Zara Qairina Mahathir's mother will hand over her mobile phone, which contains audio recordings of phone conversations with her daughter, to the police.

The death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir has shocked the nation amid growing outrage over suspected bullying at her school in Papar, Sabah.

Lawyers representing Noraidah Lamat, the mother of the late Zara Qairina Mahathir, have denied claims circulating online that the teenager was put into a washing machine, describing them as unfounded speculation.

The viral audio clips, each about 44 seconds long, were widely shared on social media and shed light on Zara Qairina’s fears for her safety, including her allegations of harassment by a group of senior students at her school.

A fourth voice recording, believed to be a conversation between the late Zara Qairina Mahathir, 13, and her mother, Noraidah Lamat, 45, has gone viral on social media.

The legal team representing the mother of the late Zara Qairina Mahathir believes that the emergence of the so-called “plot twist” narrative on social media since last week, alleging that the Form One student’s death was due to emotional distress caused by her own mother, indicates a possible leak of the case’s investigation file.

The normalisation of bullying must end, particularly in boarding schools, where hazing and “initiation” practices are sometimes dismissed as tradition. Photo: Canva

Legal experts are urging parents to take immediate action themselves, using existing laws to protect their children before harm escalates. Photo illustrated by Sinar Daily

Photo for illustration purposes only

Police have recorded statements from about 60 witnesses, including students, parents and school officials, in connection with the investigation into the death of religious school student Zara Qairina, 13, on July 17.