KOTA KINABALU, Aug. 16 -- A month after 13-year-old schoolgirl Zara Qairina Mahathir was found unconscious on the ground floor of her dormitory in Papar, tens of thousands have rallied nationwide in a powerful show of solidarity over her unsolved death.

In Kota Kinabalu, Dahari Malek from Semporna perched atop his four-wheel-drive vehicle, overlooking a crowd of thousands clad in black at Padang Merdeka. Supporters held placards and cheered, as he led chants from his vantage point.

He has been travelling across the state to join demonstrations in Zara's name since a gathering in his hometown a week ago. This was his first demonstration.

He and his friends drove nine hours to Kudat for a demonstration three days ago and then three hours...