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KOTA KINABALU: Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sabah Chairman, Phoong Jin Zhe, today urged the police to fully, transparently, and thoroughly investigate the real reason why the Investigating Officer (IO) in the case of Zara’s fatal fall failed to act in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), and to promptly disclose the truth about this SOP breach to the family and the public.
He pointed out that according to the police’s statement on Wednesday, it has been confirmed that Zara’s mother signed a declaration at the time of the incident to forgo a post-mortem.
However, the police also admitted that the investigating personnel did not strictly follow SOP by clearly explaining to Zara’s mother the importance of a post-mortem in determining Zara’s cause of death, nor by simultaneously applying to the hospital for the post-mortem process.
“The police’s statement yesterday not only helps to clarify certain questions from the public and curb unfounded speculation and rumours, but it also immediately revealed procedural lapses in the investigation.
“This is crucial to uncovering the truth and restoring public trust.
“However, it also means that the police must now follow up with accountability and further investigation to ensure that such incidents do not recur,” he said.
Phoong stressed that, from a human perspective, any parent suffering the devastating blow of losing a loved one — especially upon suddenly receiving such tragic news — could be overwhelmed with panic, grief, and confusion, making it impossible to think rationally, let alone make the best decision in a short time.
“Zara’s mother’s decision to refuse a post-mortem at the time is, in essence, a natural human reaction and should not be subjected to public condemnation or moral judgement. Instead, we should be asking why the officers on the scene failed to follow SOP by patiently and clearly explaining the relevant procedure and its importance to the family,” he added.
He questioned whether, before Zara’s mother signed the Declaration of Refusal for Post-Mortem, she truly had a full understanding of what a post-mortem entails. If she did not understand its importance, this would indicate a serious procedural misconduct by the IO.
He added that if there were any external factors or internal pressures that caused the IO to deviate from established procedures, this would not only erode judicial fairness in Malaysia, but also amount to a secondary violation of the rights of the deceased and the family.
“If it is confirmed that anyone deliberately concealed, delayed, or circumvented the proper procedures, then regardless of rank or position, they must be subjected to severe legal consequences. Otherwise, the credibility of our police force will inevitably be called into question,” he said.
Phoong stated that DAP Sabah will continue to closely follow the progress of the case and support all peaceful gatherings held to show solidarity with Zara and her family in pursuit of truth and justice.
He revealed that on August 12, a delegation from DAP Sabah, led by him, braved the rain to attend the candlelight vigil held for Zara, as a gesture of care and solidarity for the deceased and her family.
“The Zara case is a school tragedy. We must now stand united to extend our support to her family and be their strongest pillar. We fully support people across the nation who are speaking up for truth and justice, and we stand with them at all times.
“DAP Sabah will also attend the peaceful assembly to be held on the evening of the 15th at the Padang Merdeka Kota Kinabalu to demand that the police quickly uncover the truth of the case and give the family and the public an explanation,” he said.
He concluded by stressing that the Zara case is now not only a tragedy concerning school safety and boarding management, but has also become a test of the credibility of Malaysia’s law enforcement and judicial procedures.
“The police must now uncover the truth through an open and transparent process to prevent similar tragedies from happening again, and to restore public trust in the law enforcement system,” he said.
