Kelantan police chief says most statutory rape cases in the state are 'consensual', take place in budget hotels

After arguing that 90 per cent of Kelantan's recorded statutory rape cases were "consensual" during a September press conference, the state's police chief Yusoff Mamat stuck to his guns when he spoke to local media on Oct. 21.

Yusoff again said that the majority of statutory rape cases in Kelantan were "consensual", adding that they often took place in the perpetrator's house or at budget hotels.

This time, rather than suggesting that underage girls face prosecution as well, he called on parents to be more alert and observant of their kids' activities to stem the rise in statutory rape cases.

Renting budget hotels for sex

During the Oct. 21 press conference, Yusoff shared that Kelantan saw a rise in rape cases this past year, with 131 cases reported from January to September 2025 compared to 114 in 2024, World of Buzz reported.

The majority of the cases involved minors, he said.

Many would take place at either of the pair's houses, and some would even rent rooms at budget hotels just for sex.

He added that some engaged in a sexual relationship within a week of getting acquainted with each other.

Often, the case would only come to light after the hospital or family lodges a report with the police.

All these would suggest that the sex was "consensual", Yusoff said.

He reminded parents of the need to stay alert and observant of their children's activities to curb the rise in such rape cases.

Past suggestion drew rebuke

When Yusoff previously argued that 90 per cent of statutory rape cases were consensual, he followed on by suggesting that underage girls, too, should face prosecution in such cases.

His suggestion drew a rebuke from a local member of parliament, who countered that laws exist to protect children who do not have the capacity to give consent.

The police chief's latest comments were made a week after Malaysia was rocked by a rape case in Malacca, in which a 15-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by two 17-year-old boys while two other boys watched and filmed the assault.

The Royal Malaysia Police, Malaysia's federal police force, would later characterise the rape as "consensual" and not committed simultaneously, although Kedah's police chief Adzli Abu Shah did acknowledge that the victim was a minor and therefore not considered mature enough to understand the consequences of the act.

Top image via Harian Metro, Canva