Kota Kinabalu: A consultant psychiatrist told the Coroner’s Court on Thursday that there was a fundamental relationship of trust between Zara Qairina Mahathir and her mother, based on evidence from multiple sources.
The 75th deponent, Dr Wong Haw Huo, who continued his testimony at the inquest, said the trust was reflected in their frequent messaging, audio recordings, regular conversations and Zara’s routine weekend visits home, where she looked forward to spending time with her mother and enjoying her cooking.
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Dr Wong said Zara was also open with her mother about her school life, regularly sought her advice and reassurance, and shared that she felt suppressed, ridiculed or accused by several seniors between March and June while seeking help.
He said the openness between mother and daughter was also evident when interpreting Zara’s diary entries alongside affectionate audio and video recordings, adding that the material should be assessed in its entirety rather than focusing only on negative entries.
Dr Wong told the court that diary writing was a common coping mechanism for adolescents to express temporary frustrations, and that despite occasional conflicts, the overall pattern of Zara’s behaviour indicated a relationship built on psychological trust with her mother.
