Kota Kinabalu: ZARA Qairina Mahathir never told her mother that she wanted to die, commit suicide or hurt herself, the Coroner’s Court heard.
Noraidah Lamat also said she had never seen Zara attempt to harm herself throughout the time she raised her.
She said she had read several of Zara’s notebooks and diaries but had never seen any writings suggesting that her daughter wanted to hurt herself or take her own life.
Noraidah said Zara started keeping notebooks after her Bahasa Melayu teacher, Cikgu Jamilah, encouraged Year Two and Three pupils to write about their daily activities, places they went and things they remembered.
Answering questions from counsel Shahlan Jufri, she said Zara’s writings during her primary school years mainly consisted of the names of animals, states, flowers and friends, as well as drawings.
“When she moved to primary school, she tended to write about her daily life and experiences. She wrote about stories with her friends and her daily routine. That is what I knew,” she said.
Shahlan: Based on your experience, had you ever seen or read the contents of Zara’s notebooks or diaries that contained anything suggesting that she wanted to hurt herself or take her own life?Noraidah: Never. Her writings during primary school were more about her daily activities, friends and friendships.
Noraidah said she had read about five of Zara’s notebooks or diaries, but some were eventually thrown away after they were no longer used and had been affected by cats at their home.
Shahlan: Throughout the time you raised Zara, did Zara ever tell you that she wanted to die?Noraidah: Never.
Shahlan: Did Zara ever tell you that she wanted to commit suicide or hurt herself?Noraidah: Never.
Shahlan: Did you ever see Zara attempt to hurt herself?Noraidah: Never.
