“I was both her mother and friend,” Zara Qairina’s mother testifies

KOTA KINABALU, Oct 7 —The mother of the late Zara Qairina Mahathir testified at the Coroner’s Court today that she was the teenager’s principal confidante, to whom her daughter confided her troubles, joys, sorrows and matters concerning her friendships.

Noraidah Lamat, 46, the 82nd witness, testified that their bond was especially close and that she was not only a mother but also a friend to her only child.

“My relationship with Zara Qairina was indeed close. I was both her mother and friend. Whatever the matter, be it difficulties at school or amusing incidents, we would share everything,” she said during the inquest proceedings before Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan.

She said no one else in the household was a confidante for Zara Qairina, and accordingly, her daughter shared all her joys, sorrows and friendship matters with her.