Kota Kinabalu: Sipitang Bersatu Srikandi Chief Dayang Nor Syafiqah Abdul Hamid said the death of 13-year-old student Zara Qairina Mahathir exposes critical failures in student protection systems.
She said parents entrust schools with their children’s education and character development, not to expose them to bullying, torture or fatal harm.
She expressed dismay that the alleged bullying occurred within a religious institution meant to uphold the highest moral standards.
“No parent should ever have to bury their child and be left wondering if more could have been done to protect them,” she said, characterising the incident as part of a systemic breakdown rather than an isolated tragedy.
She called for immediate action from the Ministry and Sabah Education Department, calling for mandatory CCTV installation in school hostels, elimination of institutional barriers to police reporting and establishment of a dedicated Student Protection and Bullying Response Unit under the State Education Department.
Additional proposed measures include automatic post-mortem examinations and legal inquests for all unnatural student deaths, expanded mental health support services, prominently displayed student rights documentation and creation of an independent review panel to investigate serious incidents publicly.
Syafiqah also advocated for a Parental Rights Charter that would guarantee full access to incident records and remove obstacles to filing police reports.
She noted that the Attorney-General’s Chambers has already identified significant investigative gaps in Zara’s case, noting that delayed reporting compromises evidence and undermines justice.
“Every hour lost in reporting weakens investigations, destroys evidence and denies justice. In Zara’s case, the Attorney-General’s Chambers has already flagged serious investigative gaps. This must never happen again,” she said.
She urged leaders in the Sabah Government and across political lines to act decisively, without delay.
“This is bigger than politics. This is about our children’s lives, safety and dignity. Zara deserved better. All our children do. Sabah Bersatu Srikandi will work with all stakeholders to make these reforms a reality immediately,” she said.
