Kuala lumpur: Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has emphasized the importance of respecting the legal process concerning the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir. He stated that his ministry intends to stay out of the discourse surrounding the teenage girl's death, allowing the authorities to complete their investigation as per the established procedures.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Saifuddin clarified that once an incident occurs, an investigation paper is initiated. Upon completion, it is submitted to the Attorney-General. He insisted that this process should be respected, acknowledging that even a completed investigation might not be flawless. At a press conference following the closing ceremony of the i-DEEN Programme organized by the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK), he expressed his reluctance to engage in debates over the investigation's perfection.
Saifuddin was responding to demands for reopening the investigation into Zara Qairina's death from her family and several non-governmental organizations. He remarked that the public must allow the police the necessary time to conduct the investigation. He noted that if the investigation is prolonged, questions about the delay arise, and if it is expedited, there are accusations of incompleteness. He emphasized that it is common for the Attorney-General to return the investigation paper for further rectification if necessary, highlighting it as a regular part of ensuring thoroughness before proceeding with prosecution, especially in high-profile cases.
The legal team representing Zara Qairina's mother has raised concerns over the investigation's comprehensiveness. In a statement by lawyers Hamid Ismail and Shahlan Jufri, they criticized the investigation's limited scope, claiming that significant aspects were overlooked. One major issue cited was the absence of a post-mortem examination before Zara Qairina's burial.
On the topic of job rotation, Saifuddin touched upon its role in enhancing service efficiency and maintaining the integrity of civil servants. He noted that job rotation is a longstanding practice within the civil service, identified as an effective strategy in addressing integrity issues. Saifuddin affirmed that the Home Ministry is open to this approach as part of their human resource management efforts.