Anwar calls for unbiased probe into student’s death

KOTA BARU: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has given his assurance that the death of Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir will be investigated transparently without protecting anyone.

He said the case should not be taken lightly, especially as various allegations have emerged, inclu­ding that the victim had fallen, been pushed or bullied.

“Our child in Sabah has died; some say she fell, some say she was pushed, some say it was due to bullying. We do not take this lightly, and we do not want it to be turned into political fodder.

“Our instructions are clear – no compromise, regardless of whose child it is, whether the child of a minister or anyone else, I don’t care,” he said at the Rancakkan Madani Kelantan Programme at USM Health Campus, Kubang Kerian, here yesterday.

The Prime Minister said he had contacted Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail, Attorney General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar and Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail to ensure the investigation is carried out fairly, Bernama reported.

“I asked whether there were any mistakes in the investigation into Zara Qairina’s case. If there were, take action.

“This is a death. Regardless of whether it is the child of the poor or the rich, in the mountains, on land or at sea, we will pay attention because the investigation must be conducted transparently.

Planting progress: Anwar visiting a padi-planting project under Kemubu Agricultural Development Authority at Desa Gemalai Baruh Padi Alami in Mulong, Kelantan. With him are Mentri Besar Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud (in green) and other officials. — Bernama

“I am saddened because she could have been my child or grandchild,” said Anwar.

“Due to suspicions, the Attorney General’s Chambers has ordered the exhumation of the body for a second post-mortem.”

Anwar said Bukit Aman CID director Comm Datuk M. Kumar has also been instructed to go to Sabah to monitor the investigation to prevent any perception that certain parties are being protected.

“This is the Madani government; we will not protect murde­rers,” he added.

On a separate matter, Anwar urged pondok school teachers in the country to master information technology and AI to meet the challenges of the digital era.

He said failure to grasp the la­test technologies could cause the traditional religious institution to be overwhelmed by “a new wave of attacks” of the mind that have replaced past forms of colonisation.

“If we do not master it, others will, and our children will adopt AI based on the frameworks of the United States or France.

“So, how do we change the approach to this AI framework? It is by ensuring our children have resilience, an understanding of Islam, intelligence and wisdom in knowing what they want to achieve,” he said in his speech at the opening of the Madani Ijtimak (Assembly) of Kelantan Islamic Scholars and Pondok Teachers 2025 at Universiti Teknologi Mara Machang campus here.

Anwar also said it was time to rebuild the pondok institution as a stronghold of Islamic history to counter secular influences.

“Last month, I called in officials from the Finance Ministry to find a way to rebuild pondok (schools) as strongholds. Only then will Madani be realised in its true sense,” he added.

Earlier, Anwar presented a contribution totalling RM1.03mil to representatives of pondok schools attending the National Umara’-Ulama Pondok Dialogue 2025.

Previously, Anwar was quoted as saying that the government would restore and elevate the country’s pondok institution so that it can remain a bulwark for safeguarding the faith, morals, and character of the Muslim ummah in line with current needs.

He stated that this initiative involves collaboration between the Finance Ministry and the Department of Islamic Develop­ment Malaysia to ensure that religious and pondok schools can be upgraded with new facilities and technology.