KUALA LUMPUR – Police have urged those planning to attend the Perhimpunan Demi Zara Qairina tonight to abide by the law or face consequences.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Fadil Marsus said officers would facilitate the planned gathering but warned that any breach of the law would not be tolerated.
“Follow the instructions of police personnel at the location.
“We will take immediate action if anyone breaks the law. We will not compromise on this,” he said when contacted today.
Meanwhile, Dang Wangi police chief Assistant Commissioner Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman told Scoop that 40 police officers would be deployed to monitor the event.
“They will be present throughout to maintain order. For now, there are no road closures or diversions around the shopping mall area.
“However, depending on the situation, police will facilitate the movement of rally participants in accordance with legal provisions,” he said.
The rally, scheduled to begin at 8pm, is organised by a coalition of non-governmental organisations, influencers and community leaders.
It is being held in solidarity with the victim’s family and to call for firm action against those alleged to have been negligent or failed to fulfil their responsibilities.
Last week, hundreds of people in Sabah gathered in several towns to demand justice for the death of Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir.
A livestream on Sandakan MP Vivian Wong’s TikTok account showed a crowd outside Harbour Mall in her constituency chanting “justice for Zara” and “murderer”.
Similar gatherings were held in Lahad Datu and Tawau, with more rallies in solidarity with Zara planned in the coming days.
Zara was found unconscious at 4am on July 16 after she allegedly fell from the third floor of her school hostel in Papar, Sabah.
She died at Queen Elizabeth I Hospital in Kota Kinabalu the following day.
On Wednesday, Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director M Kumar said the investigating officer in charge of Zara’s case had failed to follow proper procedure by not requesting a post-mortem.
He said Zara’s death occurred under suspicious circumstances in which a post-mortem was warranted.
Earlier, her body was exhumed under orders from the Attorney-General’s Chambers so that a post-mortem could be carried out. — August 16, 2025