Everything You Need to Know About the Tragic Death of Zara Qairina at a Sabah School Dormitory

Despite many students reportedly being awake at the time, no witnesses or screams were heard, and there were no CCTV cameras in the area where she was discovered.

The police received a report about the incident at 8:16 am, and Zara was immediately rushed to Queen Elizabeth I Hospital (HQE I) in Kota Kinabalu for treatment. She was found to have suffered severe internal injuries and was in a coma, with broken legs and arms, according to her family.

Zara’s passing

Sadly, Zara succumbed to her injuries the following day, July 17. Her family made the heartbreaking decision to stop life support after doctors declared her brain dead. She was laid to rest in her hometown of Kampung Kalamauh Mesapol, Sipitang. A police report was also filed by another family member.

In the days following her death, public attention intensified, especially on social media, where allegations of bullying began to surface. A hashtag, #JusticeForZara, was created, sparking widespread concern and calls for accountability.

On July 18, news of Zara’s death and the bullying allegations began to go viral. MARA chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki publicly urged authorities to investigate the claims.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek also issued a statement, assuring that the Sabah State Education Department was providing immediate assistance to Zara’s family and that the case was under active police investigation. A TikTok post, believed to be made by Zara’s mother, Noraidah Lamat, 43, expressed deep disappointment over the circumstances surrounding her daughter’s death.

Meanwhile, on July 20, Zara’s relatives lodged another police report at IPD Papar, alleging that the school principal had obstructed the initial report. An official letter was also sent to the school demanding a formal explanation of the incident.

Two days later, on July 21, Zara’s mother publicly called for a fair and transparent investigation. This was followed by a Facebook post on July 23, allegedly written by a relative, which detailed the incident and raised several concerns. The post also claimed that the school principal had attempted to prevent the family from filing a police report on the day Zara was found.

On July 26, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek reaffirmed the government’s commitment to a transparent and fair investigation, urging all parties to allow the police space to conduct their inquiries thoroughly.

By July 30, a social media post alleged that six individuals, including children of VVIPs, were involved in bullying Zara. The post has since disappeared. The same allegations were raised in Parliament by Indera Mahkota MP Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah, who called for a swift resolution to end the speculation surrounding the case.