Banned "MA' Culture In Hostel, Seniors May Have Summoned Zara Qairina - Witness

KOTA KINABALU, Sept 12 (Bernama) -- A security guard admitted to the existence of a culture known as 'MA' – referring to sessions between senior and junior students – in the female hostel of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Tun Mustapha in Papar.

The sixth witness in the inquest proceedings, Linah Mansoding @ Jaliha, 65, testified that she did not rule out the possibility that Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir had been summoned to attend such a session.

Initially unaware of the meaning of the term 'MA', she said she came to understand its significance after receiving an explanation from hostel students.

The mother of four was responding to questioning by Zara Qairina’s family counsel, Shahlan Jufri, on the seventh day of the inquest proceedings.

Linah:  I did not understand what 'MA' meant; I only came to know after asking the students. It’s when seniors would summon juniors to reprimand and advise. For example, for disrespecting or failing to smile when passing by. 

“That was the manner in which they would counsel the younger students... telling them 'don’t do this, don’t do that'," she explained, adding that the practice had since been prohibited and banned.

Shahlan: Is the term 'MA' an abbreviation for 'Mesyuarat Agung' (General Meeting)?

Linah: That, I do not know. I only know it as 'MA'.

Shahlan: Earlier, you stated that 'MA' had been prohibited and banned by the school?

Linah: It was not prohibited in the school, only within the hostel.

Mr. Shahlan: Why was it prohibited and banned?

Linah: Because the senior students acted as they liked. They are not permitted to summon junior students as they wish. If there is misconduct, it should be reported to the teachers, and the teachers will provide counsel.

“It should be the teachers who summon the students, not the seniors. The teachers were unaware that the seniors were conducting such sessions.

Shahlan: The 2025 school term only began in March. When was the last time you heard about 'MA' being conducted?

Linah: It seems there was none; it has been a long time.

Shahlan: Is it possible that Zara Qairina was subjected to 'MA' due to the theft accusation?

Linah: Possibly.

When asked how many times she had provided statements to the police regarding Zara Qairina’s case, the witness said, "Seven times".

The inquest proceedings before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan are ongoing. 

Zara Qairina died on July 17 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where she had been admitted a day earlier after being found unconscious in a drain near her school hostel in Papar at 4 am.

On Aug 8, the Attorney General’s Chambers ordered her remains to be exhumed for a post-mortem, before announcing an inquest into her death on Aug 13.

-- BERNAMA