KOTA KINABALU: A tragic death of a Form One student from SMA Tun Datu Mustafa in Papar has sparked public concern, prompting calls for action from both state and federal leaders.

The student, 13-year-old Zara Qairina from Sipitang, was found unconscious with severe injuries beneath her school’s dormitory block at around 3am on Wednesday (July 16).

She was rushed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu but was pronounced dead on Thursday night.

While police have yet to release any official findings on the cause of her death, social media posts have raised concerns over alleged bullying at the school.

Sabah Assistant Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Fairuz Renddan urged school authorities not to protect bullies and to take firm disciplinary action.

“If a student was bullied, there must be a bully involved, and they must be dealt with. There is no excuse for protecting bullies just because they are students,” he said.

“I appeal to those with power to help us educate our children and enforce fair punishment. We must put an end to gangster-like behaviour and bullying in schools. Do not let this culture take root,” said Fairuz, offering his condolences to Zara’s family.

Sharing his sentiment was Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob, who also expressed deep concern and demanded a thorough investigation into the case.

“I take this matter, especially any incident involving the death of a student at school, very seriously. From what I have been told by the school principal and teachers, the cause of the incident remains unclear. No one witnessed the alleged fall, as students were asleep at the time.

“A post-mortem has been conducted, and we await police findings to determine whether there was foul play,” he said.

Dr Yusof also urged the Education Department to review the school’s safety infrastructure, assess the students’ mental health, and investigate possible elements of bullying or psychological distress.

“Let this be a wake-up call. We must act based on the findings. This cannot be swept under the rug,” he said.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, in a Facebook post, confirmed the case is under police investigation and urged the public not to speculate.

“The ministry is giving its full cooperation to the authorities. Please respect the family’s privacy and allow investigations to proceed without disruption,” she said.

Fadhlina, who visited the victim’s family along with senior ministry officials, assured them of continued support.

The Sabah Education Department has also extended immediate assistance, including psychosocial support.