KOTA KINABALU: Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek assured family members that the case involving the late Zara Qairina Mahathir would not be whitewashed.
Abu Bakar Lamat, 47, testified that the assurance was given while he and his wife, Nur Shira Abdullah, were waiting for Zara Qairina's body to be released from the forensic unit of Queen Elizabeth Hospital here.
The couple had returned to Sabah on July 17 from Kuala Lumpur after learning about their niece's incident a day earlier.
"While waiting, we were brought to a special room to meet the Education Minister.
"The Education Minister informed us that the case would not be hidden.
"However, the school had been instructed not to provide any information, including to family members, because police investigations were still ongoing," Zara's uncle read from his witness statement before coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan.
Thirteen-year-old Zara Qairina was found unconscious on the ground floor of the SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha dormitory on July 16 last year and was pronounced dead at Queen Elizabeth Hospital the following day.
The 72nd witness, who works as an e-hailing driver in Kuala Lumpur, also said Fadhlina had offered words of encouragement and personal contributions to the family.
"During the meeting, my wife also informed her about allegations of bullying incidents at Zara's school and requested that investigations be conducted transparently."
The court was also told that Noraidah was traumatised, deeply saddened and unable to accept Zara's sudden death.
Abu Bakar said his sister, Noraidah, had always cared for and prioritised Zara's needs above her own.
"Based on my observation, the relationship between Zara and her mother had always been very close since childhood.
"Zara appeared very comfortable with her mother and their relationship resembled that of a mother and close friend," he said.
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