SHOCKWAVES rippled through Sabah and across Malaysia when 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir, a pupil of SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha in the Papar district died after a fall on July 16-17 this year.
What should have been a straightforward case of a tragic accident soon spiralled into a circus of speculation.
From washing machine theories to political conspiracies, rumours have clouded the search for justice. The noise has been so deafening that the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) ordered an inquest to cut through the myths and put facts on the table.
Here are the eight biggest myths that have circulated – and the truth behind them.
Myth 1 – No post-mortem was conducted due to police negligence
Conspiracy theorists alleged that authorities skipped an autopsy to hide the truth.
Explanation: Zara’s mother, in a state of panic, refused consent for an initial post-mortem which was her legal right.
On July 24, the AGC ordered the body to be exhumed, showing the system moved swiftly once the concern was raised. This demonstrated the Madani government’s commitment to due process, not negligence.
Myth 2 – The school’s headmistress is married to a VIP
Whispers online alleged that the school’s headmistress is the wife of Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud.
Explanation: In fact, Datin Rosnih Nasir had already retired from SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha on Nov 22, 2024, eight months before the tragedy. Authorities have publicly dismissed this claim as baseless.
Myth 3 – The Madani government is politicising Zara’s death
Some accused Putrajaya of turning the tragedy into a political football.
Explanation: In reality, both Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil have urged Malaysians not to politicise the case. Instead, the focus has been on ensuring justice for the family and transparency in the inquest.
Myth 4 – A pathologist revealed the “truth” on TikTok
A man claiming to be a surgeon involved in Zara’s autopsy uploaded a sensational TikTok video.
Explanation: On Aug 16, Communications Minister Fahmi confirmed that police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) were tracing the culprit who turned out to be a fraudster.
Authorities stressed no such surgeon existed, and investigations are on-going to curb false claims.
Myth 5 – The inquest is just a delay tactic
Some critics alleged that the inquest was designed to buy time and bury the case.
Explanation: Ordered by the AGC, the inquest is an independent judicial process under Section 339(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The Sabah Law Society welcomed it as a step toward transparency. Dates have already been set and the coroner will call extensive witnesses. This is a far cry from stalling.
Myth 6 – One of the bullies was the Sabah Governor’s grandchild
Social media lit up with claims that one of Zara’s bullies was related to the Sabah governor Tun Musa Aman.
Explanation: On Aug 18, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution told Parliament this was untrue. While the pupil had a similar name, she was not related to the governor. Saifuddin slammed the rumours as baseless and dangerous.
Myth 7 – Zara was put into a washing machine
A disturbing theory alleged Zara had been forced into a washing machine.
Explanation: Lawyers Hamid Ismail and Shahlan Jufri who represent Zara’s family, rubbished the story. In a media statement, they said Zara’s mother never made such a claim. The viral video was pure speculation.
Myth 8 – Authorities ignored or mishandled the case
Finally, some accused both the federal and Sabah state governments of dragging their feet.
Explanation: The reality shows otherwise: the AGC has ordered an exhumation within days, the police launched multiple probes and an inquest is now underway.
Both the Madani and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor administrations have made clear they want full accountability, not a cover-up.
Cutting through the noise
Zara’s death is first and foremost a tragedy for her family – more so her single mother. What has made it worse is the flood of falsehoods that turned social media into a breeding ground for conspiracy.
The inquest will allow facts – not rumours – to prevail. Until then, Malaysians would do well to ignore the keyboard warriors and self-proclaimed “forensic experts” who thrive on clicks instead of truth and also stop sharing unsubstantiated reports.
Because justice is not served on TikTok or WhatsApp. It is served in the courtroom. – Aug 21, 2025
VOICE OF ASIA Editorial Note
At VOICE OF ASIA, we believe in amplifying the real voices of the people – especially those too often overlooked in national discourse. This article, originally published by Focus Malaysia, highlights a perspective from Sabah that resonates with our editorial mission: to go beyond headlines and politics, and shine a light on what truly matters to everyday Malaysians.
The original version can be found here.
