Kota kinabalu: Nine wardens from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama (SMKA) Tun Datu Mustapha have been removed by the State Education Department, the Coroner's Court was told today. English teacher Nor Asima Zaiton, who confirmed the matter, said she was among those removed.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, when asked if the removal was related to the death of Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir last July, Nor Asima replied, "Maybe." The 49-year-old witness was questioned by lawyer Joan Goh, representing one of the children involved in Zara Qairina's bullying case, during the inquest into the student's death before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan.
Nor Asima revealed that she had initially intended to resign prior to the incident. However, when the time arrived, the State Education Department informed them that they would no longer serve as wardens. This decision came amid investigations into the circumstances surrounding Zara Qairina's death.
Nor Asima also addressed the issue of the six public phones available for students to contact their parents, which were shut down for two days following the tragedy. She stated that this was on the instruction of Chief Warden Azhari Abd Sagap, aiming to minimize panic among parents. Students were not completely barred from contacting their parents, as Nor Asima allowed a Form One student who was unwell to use her mobile phone to reach her mother.
When questioned about potentially going against Azhari's instruction, Nor Asima clarified that the directive only pertained to public phones and did not mention mobile phones. She refrained from commenting on whether the school had been negligent in connection with Zara Qairina's death.
The teacher, acknowledging that harsh words were sometimes used among students, noted that a child's behavior largely depends on parental upbringing and peer influence. The tragic death of Zara Qairina, 13, who was confirmed dead at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on July 17, a day after being found unconscious in a drain near her school dormitory, has prompted a broader inquiry into the school's environment and policies.