Mother regrets sending Zara to SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha

 By Olivia Miwil

June 26, 2026 @ 7:53pm

The coroner's court was told that Noraidah Lamat regretted sending her daughter, the late Zara Qairinah Mahathir, to SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha. STR/MOHD ADAM ARININ

KOTA KINABALU: The coroner's court was told that Noraidah Lamat regretted sending her daughter, the late Zara Qairinah Mahathir, to SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha.

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Wong Haw Huo testified that Noraidah had a difficult childhood due to her parents' separation, poverty, and the loss of her father during her pregnancy with Zara Qairina.

He said Noraidah's tough personality, shaped by her past ordeals, led her to build a meaningful life when she attended the same school - SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha, where Zara Qairina also attended - in Papar, near here.

"Her mom always encouraged her to enter that boarding school, make friends and learn to be independent. Zara Qairina took it positively.

"She (Noraidah) kept on sharing that she was not good enough and she felt sorry that Zara was sent to the same school," the 75th witness testified before coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan on the 78th day of the inquest.

On July 16 last year, Noraidah's 13-year-old daughter was found lying unconscious near her dormitory and was pronounced dead the following day at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

The expert was responding to questions from Noraidah's lawyer, Shahlan Jufri, about what transpired during his interview with Noraidah in January.

Dr Wong, 39, told the court that during the interview, Noraidah had initially maintained her composure but cried when Zara Qairina was mentioned.

"She kept on apologising. She had built a tough wall (to) survive over the past 20 years. For her, crying is a sign of weakness, which she could not show to others," he said.

The expert also confirmed that the love between Zara Qairina and her mother was genuine based on his interview with Noraidah, as well as evidence such as audio recordings, video clips, decorations at home and several documents.

"Genuine love between them was evidenced by closeness, frequent communication, laughter and sharing of lives with small details. There was trust. Without trust, there is no love.

"The love can be manifested in many forms, whether it is physical love or an emotional connection. But overall, I agree this was a genuine love between mother and daughter."