Zara Qairina Mahathir’s tragic death sparks nationwide outrage and demands for educational reform
New York, N.Y. – The tragic death of a 13-year-old schoolgirl has forced Malaysia to confront its severe and systemic school bullying problem, igniting national outrage and compelling the government to take long-overdue action against the culture of violence and impunity within its educational institutions.
This issue has been thrust back into the national conversation after Zara Qairina Mahathir was discovered unconscious outside her dormitory at an Islamic boarding school in Sabah, on July 16, 2024. She died the following day after plunging from a third-floor balcony.
The case has transfixed the nation. Allegations of a cover-up and police admissions of early investigative failures fueled public anger.
“Justice for Zara” became a rallying cry, sparking rare street protests in Sabah and an outpouring of grief online and in communities across Malaysia.
Five teenagers have since been charged with bullying her, and a month-long inquest began to uncover the truth behind her final hours.
“From the cases that have surfaced publicly, plus countless unreported ones, bullying in Malaysia is severe and systemic,” said Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim, chair of the Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia.
“It is not just ‘kids being kids.’ It has led to trauma, injury and even deaths.”
A Pattern of Violence Emerges
Since Zara’s death, a roll-call of other victims’ stories has emerged, echoing one another in their most chilling details. In early August, 10-year-old cancer patient Izzul Islam Azuan was hospitalized after being repeatedly struck by a classmate in southern Johor state. Weeks later, a high court ordered the exhumation of 22-year-old cadet Syamsul Haris Shamsudin, who died on July 28, 2024. His body bore suspicious injuries; his mother believes he was a victim of bullying.
Military-linked institutions in Malaysia have long been notorious for harsh hazing rituals. In November 2023, reserve officer Muhammad Amir Rusyaidi Muhammad Zaidi, 25, collapsed and died during a grueling training session. In 2017, the nation was shocked by the death of 20-year-old cadet Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain, who was tortured with a steam iron by fellow students.
Government Response Under Scrutiny
The renewed focus on abuse has put the government on the defensive. On August 27, 2024, it convened its first special meeting on bullying, pledging to establish an anti-bullying tribunal.
This followed the recent enactment of expanded anti-cyberbullying laws, inspired partly by the suicide in July 2023 of activist Rajeswary Appahu, 30, who had faced relentless online abuse.
However, the Ministry of Education’s initial proposal to reward schools reporting “zero bullying” with additional funding was swiftly condemned as incentivizing cover-ups.
Critics warned it risked protecting institutional reputations rather than children.
Law Minister Azalina Othman Said, who chairs the new anti-bullying committee, has promised stronger measures.
“This meeting is an important early step to craft a concrete and practical plan to ensure Malaysia has a solid, fair and effective bullying prevention mechanism,” her office stated.
For decades, bullying has been normalized in Malaysia’s boarding schools, often
brushed off as a “character-building rite of passage.” This problematic tradition is
magnified by social media’s power to shame and is exacerbated by systemic issues.
Systemic Issues Fuel Crisis
Large class sizes and a chronic shortage of teachers—estimated at more than 20,000—often leave the country’s over 5 million students largely unsupervised.
“What is lacking is supervision of student activities outside the classroom,” said Fouzi Singon, secretary general of the teachers’ union.
The debate often intersects with corporal punishment, which some parents still practice. Tragically, this has led to numerous fatalities, with 114 cases of fatal child abuse reported last year alone, according to government data.
Some institutions are pushing back. The Mara Junior Science Colleges, a group of government-affiliated boarding schools, takes a strict zero-tolerance approach by expelling perpetrators.
“I have stressed many times to students that I have no compromise on bullying,” said Mara Chairman Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, who recently ordered all schools under his purview to never cover up incidents.
Lasting Scars on Students
For many Malaysians, the scars of their school days persist. One young man, ‘Ahmad,’ 28, recounted the years of abuse he endured at a fee-paying boarding school, where seniors ruled with unchecked authority.
“Seniors were like kings and we were all at their mercy,” he said, describing forced nighttime drills and random beatings disguised as “orientation.”
The brutality of this environment has even permeated popular culture. The 2023 streaming series Project High Council offered an unflinching depiction of life under the sway of abusive seniors, confirming the worst fears of many parents.
For insurance agent and mother Mimi Shahira, the recent tragedies have been a wake-up call.
“With what’s happening to Zara, and all these negative cultures, perhaps it’s better to keep them at home with me,” she said, echoing a sentiment felt by parents across the nation wondering if the halls of learning can ever be made safe.
As UNICEF’s representative in Malaysia, Robert Gass, stated: “No child should ever fear for their safety when going to school… Schools must be safe, joyful spaces where children learn, grow and build friendships with dignity and respect.”
Malaysia Confronts School Bullying Crisis After Student Death (Sept. 9, 2025)
Summary
The death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir has ignited a national firestorm in Malaysia over its endemic school bullying crisis. From boarding schools to military academies, a history of violence and cover-ups is now facing unprecedented public scrutiny, forcing the government to propose new laws and tribunals to address a problem advocates say has been dismissed for far too long. The case has become a rallying cry for systemic education reform and child protection measures.
