Kota Kinabalu: The Coroner’s Court will decide on Wednesday whether the 76th deponent in the inquest into the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir may continue giving evidence after questions were raised over her qualifications as an expert witness.
Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan directed all parties to file written submissions on the issue of Dr Noor Aishah Rosli’s qualifications and fixed 11.30am on Wednesday to hear submissions before delivering a ruling.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, Conducting Officer Nahrah Dollah objected to Noor Aishah continuing her testimony after it emerged that she is not registered as a Child Clinical Psychologist under the Malaysian Allied Health Professions Council (MAHPC) pursuant to the Allied Health Professions Act 2016.
Nahrah argued that Sections 29 and 33(1)(c) of the Act require an expert to be registered before being permitted to testify as an expert witness in court.
Counsel representing Zara’s father and counsel for students A, B, C, D and E supported the objection, submitting that the court should first determine the witness’s qualifications as the issue could affect the status of her evidence.
Counsel Shahlan Jufri, appearing for Zara’s mother, submitted that the proceedings should continue as the deponent was already midway through her testimony and argued that the court could determine her status as an expert witness after hearing all of her evidence.
Earlier, Noor Aishah acknowledged under questioning that she is not registered as a Child Clinical Psychologist under the Allied Health Professions Act 2016, but said she practises under her registration with the Malaysian Board of Counsellors.
She told the court that the Act is still relatively new, confirmed she is a registered counsellor with academic and clinical qualifications in child psychology, and maintained that her registration allows her to practise and conduct assessments and analyses involving children and adolescents.
