Kota Kinabalu: A Form Two student of SMK Tun Mustapha told the coroner’s court that Zara Qairina Mahathir appeared distressed and said “saya mahu terjun” (“I want to jump”) when they met about an hour before Zara was later found unconscious on the school hostel grounds.
The testimony was revealed on Tuesday by counsel Joan Goh, who, together with Datuk Ram Singh, briefed the media following court proceedings.
Goh said the student, the 65th deponent in the inquest, recounted that she encountered Zara between 1am and 2am on July 16. At the time, Zara was pacing back and forth in front of the third-floor toilet area and a dormitory, rather than along the entire corridor.
According to the witness, she had woken up during that time to meet a classmate at Block A when she noticed a female student walking in an unsettled manner. Upon approaching, she realised it was Zara.
The student described Zara as visibly distressed, with a red face and tearful eyes, appearing as though she had been crying. When asked about her condition, Zara reportedly said she wanted to transfer schools but refused to elaborate further.
“She only said, ‘saya mahu terjun’,” Goh quoted the student as telling the court.
The witness also told the court she responded by asking, “Do you think you will go to heaven if you jump?” but was unsure at first whether Zara was serious, as she had made similar remarks before.
Despite her uncertainty, the student attempted to calm Zara and spent about 10 minutes with her. She held Zara’s hand and led her back to her dorm room, ensuring she entered before returning to her own room in Block B.
The witness said she then went to sleep and only learned of the incident the following morning before dawn prayers, when a friend woke her up in distress.
After prayers, she was informed that Zara had allegedly jumped, leaving her shocked and speechless.
The student also recalled details of Zara’s clothing that night, describing a long-sleeved shirt that was white in the centre with a blue right sleeve, noting that she owned a similar shirt.
The inquest into Zara’s death is ongoing.
