Kota Kinabalu: A witness told the Coroner’s Court here on Monday that she and Zara Qairina Mahathir often wrote about their friendship in a diary they shared together since May last year.
The 32nd witness, who had been close friends with Zara Qairina since their time at a state religious primary school, was testifying during the inquest proceedings into the death of the Form One student before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan.
Lawyer Mohd Syarulnizam Mohd Salleh, representing Zara Qairina’s mother, said the witness testified that in May 2024, she and Zara Qairina started a joint diary which they took turns writing in.
“According to the witness, no one else was allowed to read the diary apart from the two of them. The last time she saw the diary was in February 2025,” said Mohd Syarulnizam when sharing the child witness’s testimony after the proceedings.
The lawyer said the witness described Zara Qairina as a kind and cheerful person who made genuine efforts to maintain their friendship, including buying her gifts.
“The witness said she enjoyed being friends with Zara Qairina. She also mentioned that Zara Qairina was very close to her mother, who would accompany her everywhere and personally send and pick her up when she visited her (witness) house,” he said.
Meanwhile, lawyer Joan Goh, representing a child in the Zara Qairina bullying case, when sharing the same witness’s testimony, said the witness said that throughout their acquaintance, Zara Qairina had not talked much about her father.
Meanwhile, lawyer Joan Goh, representing one of the teenagers involved in the Zara Qairina bullying case, when sharing the same witness’s testimony, said that she also testified that throughout her friendship with Zara Qairina, the latter rarely spoke about her father and never mentioned having any problems with her mother or family.
Zara Qairina, 13, was confirmed dead at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, here on July 17, a day after she was found unconscious in a drain near her school dormitory.
The proceeding continues today (Tuesday).
