Kota Kinabalu: The newly-appointed Chief Warden of SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha confirmed that groups similar to “Circle 19” continue to exist at the school despite the incident involving Zara Qairina Mahathir.
Rezany Mohd Taupek, 45, who took up the post in August this year, told the coroner that, to him, such “circles” were merely ordinary student groups.
However, he was unable to answer when pressed on whether he had the authority to ban them.
During questioning by counsel Datuk Ram Singh, the following exchange took place:
Ram: Are any of these “circles” still present in the hostel?
Rezany: To me, these “circles” are just normal groups.
Ram: So they still exist?
Rezany: They still exist.
Ram: Can you go to school tomorrow and just eliminate these circles? Can you? We in the inquest also want to know. Ban them?
Rezany: I cannot answer that.
Ram: That means I have doubts about your role as Chief Warden, since you cannot say whether you can ban Circle 19 or any other circle?
Rezany: It depends on the meaning of the ‘circle’ being referred to.
Ram: When you say it depends, what circle do you mean?
Rezany: It depends on the context. It’s just a normal matter.
Ram: As Chief Warden since August, do the Form One students have groups like Circle 19?
Rezany: I’m not sure.
On the in loco parentis system, Rezany said the warden on duty was the one responsible for Zara’s care on the night of the incident.
Regarding the CCTV system recently installed at the hostel, he confirmed that the monitors were not connected to any warden’s house.
Ram: Then how do we ensure that although the CCTV is there, no one is actually watching it?
Rezany: The monitors are placed in the wardens’ operations room.
Ram: Where is that?
Rezany: There is one in the male hostel and one in the female hostel.
Ram: So the CCTV runs 24 hours?
Rezany: Yes, 24 hours.
Rezany agreed that senior students should not be dealing with disciplinary or personal issues involving Form One students.
He affirmed that he understood his responsibilities concerning the safety and welfare of hostel students and was aware of the school’s guidelines, which stress early risk detection, emotional safety and immediate reporting. He also acknowledged that wardens are required to carry out regular night patrols and inspections.
Responding to a question, Rezany said he assumed Zara had fallen but admitted he was not certain. He said he tapped Zara’s cheek but she did not respond, and he realised the severity of her condition upon seeing her injuries.
He described feeling “mixed feelings” with many questions running through his mind, along with sympathy.
Rezany said it did not occur to him to call Zara’s mother immediately because their focus was on Zara. He only phoned her at 4.14am, after the ambulance had taken Zara away.
He told the coroner he visited Zara in hospital on July 16 at 8pm and on July 17 at 3pm. She was unconscious. He was also present in the Neurology Ward during the tube-removal procedure.
He agreed that the incident could have been prevented with more effective monitoring.
On the issue of suspended grills installed along each hostel corridor, which could pose a danger to students, he admitted he never recommended their removal or replacement to the school administration.
Rezany further agreed that the safety and welfare of hostel students is the responsibility of wardens and hostel teachers, including himself.
However, he declined to answer whether he or the other wardens had been negligent in carrying out their in loco parentis duties, or whether he could therefore be held responsible for that negligence.
