Kota Kinabalu: Thousands of people turned up at the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque Thursday night for a special solat hajat, tahlil and prayers for the late Zara Qairina Mahathir, 13, a Form One student, whose death on July 17 captured national attention.
The solemn ceremony was also attended by Head of State Tun Musa Aman, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and several State Cabinet ministers, including Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Ir Shahelmey Yahya and Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Arifin Arif.
Also present were State Speaker Datuk Seri Kadzim M. Yahya, State Secretary Datuk Seri Safar Untong, Sabah Mufti Datuk Bungsu @ Aziz Jaafar and State Education Department Director Datuk Taisin Saidin,
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});Attendees began filling up the mosque as early as 5pm, coming from across the capital here and its outskirts.
The event began with Maghrib prayers, followed by the solat hajat, recitation of tahlil and special prayers for the deceased, led by the Grand Imam Ustaz Suhaidi Kuanting.
During the tahlil, a solemn and emotional atmosphere enveloped the prayer hall. Some attendees were seen in tears as they reflected on the death of the 13-year-old student.
At the same time, similar prayers were held at mosques and surau across Sabah, demonstrating the unity of the people in seeking truth and justice.
According to the organisers, the purpose of the event was also to pray for the ease of the family’s affairs and to help alleviate the trauma experienced by other students.
For one worshipper, Mohd Nazrul Abdul Ali, 42, the large turnout from people of all walks of life proved that the community was united in seeking justice for Zara Qairina.
“She was an innocent child, and the whole of Sabah is praying for the truth to emerge,” he said when met after the event.