Malaysia

Bullying cases in Kedah surge 330 per cent, police warn of zero tolerance in schools

Kedah recorded a sharp rise in bullying cases in 2025, with police warning that offences committed by students will face firm legal action without compromise

Updated 9 months ago · Published on 11 Jan 2026 12:49PM

Bullying cases in Kedah surge 330 per cent, police warn of zero tolerance in schools
Concerns grow over a high number of sexual crime cases involving schoolchildren - January 11, 2026

BULLYING cases in Kedah have surged by 330 per cent, with 43 cases recorded throughout 2025 compared with just 10 cases in the previous year, according to police statistics

Kedah police chief Datuk Adzli Abu Shah said that of the total cases, 32 occurred in secondary schools, nine in primary schools, and two involved private educational institutions. He added that 31 perpetrators have been arrested, with one already charged in court.

“These statistics show that bullying is not a minor issue and will face legal action without compromise,” he said.

Adzli also expressed concern over the number of rape cases involving school students, with 90 cases recorded in Kedah during 2025. “Of that total, 78 cases involved secondary school students, while another 12 involved primary school pupils,” he said.

He was speaking at the First Day of School Ceremony for the 2026 academic calendar at Sultan Abdul Hamid College here. Also present was Kedah State Education Department director Abdul Rahim Mat.

According to Adzli, investigations by the D11 Unit for Sexual, Women and Child Crimes under the Criminal Investigation Department at the Kedah police contingent headquarters found that most rape cases involving students were closely linked to social problems and moral decline.

These included unsupervised free mixing and the abuse of trust, he said, adding that awareness of personal safety and sexual education among students was crucial in preventing such crimes from continuing.

He stressed that there is no legal protection for criminal behaviour, even if the offender is underage or a school student, and that the law would be enforced without compromise.

In the meantime, Adzli said the presence of the Royal Malaysia Police in schools was not intended as enforcement, but rather as a preventive measure and a source of moral support for students, particularly on the first day of the school term. - January 11, 2026

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