By Olivia Miwil
KOTA KINABALU: Noraidah Lamat did not want a post-mortem to be conducted on the late Zara Qairina Mahathir, the Coroner's Court heard today.
Nur Shira Abdullah said her sister-in-law had told her privately in a hospital ward when there were no visitors present.
"Zara's mother had said that she did not want a post-mortem as she did not want her child to be 'hurt' or 'cut open'.
"She told me this in the ward. We never discussed the issue of a post-mortem in public," Nur Shira, the 71st witness testified before coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan on the 69th day of the inquest into Zara Qairina's death.
The 13-year-old was pronounced dead on July 17, a day after she was found unconscious on the ground floor of the SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha dormitory.
Nur Shira, 46, was examined by lawyer Shahlan Jufri on statements by teachers who had previously testified that they overheard "Zara's aunt had refused a post-mortem and Zara's grandfather agreed as he did not want the child to be cut open."
Shahlan is representing Noraidah.
Nur Shira, who is from Kuala Lumpur, also said she could not communicate with the grandfather due to a language barrier, and therefore found it strange that he would have spoken about the matter.
She also denied that they had been provided with an explanation by a medical doctor regarding the importance of a post-mortem.
Meanwhile, in reply to Shahlan regarding the school's request for Zara Qairina's body to be brought to SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha for final respects, Nur Shira said it was a suggestion made by the school principal through an ustazah.
"I told my husband that our child (Zara Qairina) was not a kitten to be moved around for display.
"If they want to pay their last respects, they should rent a bus and go to Sipitang."
The inquest will resume at 2pm.
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