KOTA KINABALU: All attention will be focused on the case of the late Zara Qairina this Wednesday.
On that day, at least five underage teenagers will face charges in the Kota Kinabalu Children’s Court in Sabah.
Following the widespread outrage this case has generated across all segments of society, including netizens in the country, we will finally see five teenagers brought to court.
Thanks to the efforts of the Attorney General, Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar, in upholding justice for Zara.
Social activist Dr Kanul Gindol said Malaysians especially Sabahans welcome the AGC’s decision to prosecute the five suspects, all under the age of 18, under the new Section 507C(1) of the Penal Code.
“We hope the new law which pertains to threatening, and abusive or insulting communications, will set a precedent for accountability in school-related incidents,” he said, adding that bullying in schools and hostels, including in religious schools, is a worrying trend.
“We need to deter similar cases of bullying from happening again. The civilised people and guardians need to protect our kids everywhere especially in schools and hostels where parents wont be around,” he said when contacted by Jesselton Times today.
Dr Kanul also pointed out that the assurance by Home Minister Saifudin Nasution that there will be no cover up in the case is as welcome as the authorities assured they are investigating three primary angles in Zara’s tragic death: bullying, neglect, and sexual harassment.
He said the three angles are central to both the inquest, to be held from this 3 to 30 September, and the on-going criminal investigations over the case.
“The nation is stunned by the accident and still reeling from the shock. What matters now is justice for Zara and her family. The perpetrators must be brought to justice.
“This will never bring back Zara to her family, but we must make sure there will be no more repeats of the accident. We are petrified by such evil acts perpetrated by students against fellow student,” Dr Kanul added.
He also said, initially Malaysians were worried that the Zara’s case would be swept under the carpet as allegations of cover-ups and the lack of post-mortem and procedural follow-throughs mounted up and ignited distrust.
“But the whole country has since risen up and that huge peaceful gatherings of #JusticeforZara everywhere have now helped restored in place the correct actions hopefully to bring fairness to all parties.
“The criminal trials of the juveniles will surely be followed closely by many, and it could influence how future bullying-related cases are prosecuted in Malaysia,” Dr Kanul further said.
The activist said not less than 195 witnesses, among them are students, teachers and medical staff, have been listed to appear before Coroner Azrina Aziz next month, at a hearing at which the nation will learn the depth of the untimely tragic death of a dear student.
Zara was found unconscious at 4am beside a drain of her dormitory on July 16 this year. She died the following day at the Queen Elizabeth 1 Hospital in Kota Kinabalu.
“This incident will have a far and immediate effect on the country, including on Sabah, where the incident occurred,” concluded Dr Kanul.
