THE Royal Malaysian Police has cited that about 91 per cent of rape cases involving underage teenagers in Kedah this year stemmed from consensual sexual activity.
Kedah Police Chief Datuk Adzli Abu Shahe said that from January to September, police recorded 100 rape cases across the state, with 91 involving voluntary meetings between the victims and perpetrators.
“The trend is worrying, and I hope parents will play a more active role in addressing this issue,” he told reporters after visiting Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Hosba here yesterday.
“That is why I have emphasised that we cannot stop confronting this problem. The police, the Kedah State Education Department (JPN), teachers, and other agencies must work together across various levels to tackle it,” he said.
Also present at the programme was Kedah Education Director Abdul Rahim Mat.
Adzli advised parents to be more vigilant, especially when their teenage children go out late at night.
“If our children aged 13 or 15 are out at night, why are parents not asking where they are going? Why aren’t we questioning them? We need to return to the days when the community cared about one another — when people were not afraid to ask why someone’s child was out late,” he said.
He added that reviving such social awareness and communal concern could help reduce social problems, including rape and other forms of misconduct.
Adzli said that while police and schools have recently strengthened cooperation following an increase in school-related crime and juvenile cases nationwide, parents must also shoulder their responsibilities.
“There must be balance. It’s not only about what happens in schools. Parents need to monitor their children’s activities, especially their access to the internet, to prevent unwanted incidents linked to social ills,” he said. - October 27, 2025
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