A discipline teacher testifies that a ragging culture exists among senior students at SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha, during the inquest into a student’s death.
KOTA KINABALU: A discipline teacher has told the Coroner’s Court that a ragging culture exists among senior students at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Tun Datu Mustapha.
The school’s disciplinary unit secretary, Muliati Alihuddin, 42, made the admission as the 56th witness in the inquest into the death of Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir.
She said ragging cases usually involve male students performing light tasks like fetching water or ironing clothes.
“We have never received reports of ragging among female students,” she told Coroner Amir Shah Amir Hassan.
Muliati described the Zara Qairina case as the most serious disciplinary issue the school has ever faced.
She said the school had not encountered any criminal cases before this.
When asked about general discipline, Muliati said most reported cases involve prohibited mobile phones.
Other issues include students skipping Subuh prayers and improper personal appearance.
Coroner Amir Shah also questioned whether caning was still implemented as a disciplinary measure.
Muliati said only the Senior Assistant for Student Affairs is now allowed to cane students.
She expressed support for the practice, stating that “the softer approach is not effective”.
Zara Qairina was confirmed dead at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on July 17, a day after she was found unconscious in a drain near her school dormitory.
The inquest continues.
