Kedah reports 90 rape cases involving students in 2025, police calls for action

Police in Kedah, Malaysia, have reported a troubling rise in serious crimes affecting school-aged children, with 90 rape cases involving students recorded in 2025 alongside a marked increase in bullying incidents, reported Malaysian media.

Alarming rise in rape cases among pupils

A total of 90 rape cases involving underaged school students were logged throughout 2025, with 78 involving secondary school pupils and 12 involving primary school children, reported the Malay Mail.

The Kedah police chief described these figures as “extremely worrying”, emphasising that crimes affecting students cannot be treated lightly.

Investigations by the Criminal Investigation Department found most of the rape cases involving students were closely linked to broader social problems and moral decline, including factors such as unsupervised social mixing, abuse of trust and negligence in maintaining appropriate boundaries.

Highlighting prevention, the police chief stressed the importance of personal safety awareness and sexual education among students to help prevent them from becoming victims of crime.

He added:

“Every student must understand that no one has the right to touch, coerce or take advantage of them, whether physically, emotionally or through social media.

“Therefore, do not remain silent and report immediately to teachers, parents, guardians or education department officers so that action can be taken.”

Bullying spike

In the same period, Kedah recorded 43 bullying cases involving students, a sharp increase from just 10 cases in 2024, marking a 330 per cent rise in reported incidents.

Police data show that 32 of the bullying incidents occurred in secondary schools, nine in primary schools, and two in private schools.

The police chief said, during a visit with the Kedah Education Department, as cited by the New Straits Times:

"From the total, 31 were arrested and 11 have been charged in court."

The chief went on to say that this shows "bullying is not a minor issue and will face firm legal action without compromise.”

He emphasised that criminal acts will be dealt with under the law, even if the perpetrator is underage or a student.

Preventive action

Meanwhile, the police chief also assured that officers were present in schools not to enforce the law, but to provide reassurance and prevention, particularly on the first day of the school term.

“We want schools to remain safe spaces for learning and character-building, not places tainted by violence, bullying or drug abuse."

Top images via Malaysia and Singapore News/Facebook, Canva