SANDAKAN: More than 1,000 people here and from nearby districts gathered at The Piazza Harbour Mall, Friday night, for a Aksi Vigil@Sandakan #JusticeForZara# gathering organised by the Zara Solidarity Secretariat.
Similar vigils were also held in several other districts across Sabah with the first at Gaya Street in Kota Kinabalu, last Sunday (Aug 4). It is understood that another smaller event was held in Lahad Datu.
The gathering was organised by Suara Mahasiswa UMS in collaboration with Gerakan Anak Muda Pantai Timur (Gempur).
The peaceful assembly was to show solidarity in the pursuit of justice for the case of the still unsolved death of Zara Qairina Mahathir, 13, who was found in the drain of her SMK Agama Tun Mustapha dormitory in Kinarut at 3am on July 16.
She died in Queen Elizabeth Hospital the following day and the official outcome of police investigations into her death is still unknown after three weeks, with the Federal Attorney General’s chambers having rejected the preliminary report submitted by Sabah police.
Among those present at the rally were Sandakan MP Vivian Wong Shir Yee, Sabah Dapsy Deputy Chief Tang Szu Ching, Warisan Elopura Assemblyman Calvin Chong Ket Kiun, Chairman of Masjid Wasatiyah Lupak Meluas Satu Sapi Mohd Zharif Aizat Datuk Samsudin, Sandakan Usia Youth Chief Mohd Sufan Bahrin, Secretariat representative Mohamad Kadir Abdul Jalil and members of the organising committee.
Speaking to the media after the event, Mohamad Kadir said they had gathered to express solidarity and sympathy for Zara, stressing that they would not issue any defamatory or negative statements.
He urged the public to refrain from spreading false or malicious remarks and to allow the authorities to conduct their investigation.
Vivian said she was moved by the unity shown and urged the government to carry out a thorough investigation and deliver a conclusive outcome.
She also reminded the public to stop spreading unverified information and to wait for clear findings.
Sufan, Aizat, and Szu Ching likewise advised against sharing unverified details that could hurt the victim’s family, and called for space to be given for the investigation to run its course.
Sufan also thanked the police and Sandakan Municipal Council for ensuring the event was conducted in an orderly manner.
