KOTA KINABALU, Aug. 9 -- Thousands of people gathered on the streets of major towns across Sabah last night to demand justice for Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir, whose death has sparked a nationwide outcry over the handling of her investigation.

In Sandakan, crowds began assembling at the waterfront Harbour Square as early as 6pm, holding banners, reciting poems, and offering prayers in memory of Zara.

The rally, which was planned to end at 9pm, grew into the thousands by 8pm with local activists and community representatives, including Sandakan MP Vivian Wong, taking turns to speak as they called for transparency in the investigation.

Videos of the rally were also live streamed on social media, showing the crowd, mostly clad i...