Kuala Lampur:The mother of the late Zara Qairina Mahathir told the Coroner's Court that she did not receive an adequate explanation regarding the importance of a post-mortem examination before declining the procedure for her daughter on July 17 last year.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Noraidah Lamat, 46, stated she only quickly glanced through the form due to being overwhelmed with grief and panic after her only child's death. She contested the testimony of Dr. Logaraj Ratha, a forensic medical officer from Queen Elizabeth Hospital, who claimed he explained the necessity of the post-mortem to the family.

Noraidah, questioned by her lawyer Shahlan Jufri, explained that she and her sister-in-law signed the form to expedite funeral arrangements before undertaking a three-hour journey to Sipitang. She emphasized that panic and grief drove their decision-making process.

The court was shown the 'Voluntary Declaration of Refusal of Post-Mortem Examination' form, which indicated that the signatory did not suspect criminal involvement, viewed the death as occurring under normal circumstances, and would not seek a post-mortem report for legal claims. Noraidah admitted her emotional state hindered her understanding of the form's contents.

Furthermore, Noraidah mentioned she was not given a copy of the form upon signing it and only received one later from a police officer during her statement. She also informed the court about a police report she filed at Karamunsing police station on July 17, seeking an investigation into her daughter's death.

Zara Qairina, aged 13, passed away at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on July 17, 2025, a day after being found unconscious near a drain at her school hostel.