POLICE in Selangor have acknowledged that enforcement gaps remain in preventing minors from purchasing knives and other sharp weapons through online platforms, following the stabbing of a Form Three student at a secondary school in Banting.
Selangor Police Chief Datuk Shazeli Kahar said existing safeguards imposed by several e-commerce platforms have yet to fully prevent underage buyers from obtaining such items, although the government is moving towards tighter regulation through new legislation governing minors' online access.
"In my view, we are still in the process of ensuring that those under the age of 18 do not have access, in line with the government's intention through the introduction of new legislation.
"During this transition period, there may still be opportunities that allowed the suspect to obtain the weapon online," he said during a press conference at the Selangor Police Contingent Headquarters on Thursday.
Investigations found that the 15-year-old suspect allegedly purchased the knife used in the attack through an online shopping platform before concealing it in a backpack and travelling to the school using an e-hailing service.
Shazeli dismissed claims that the incident resulted from inadequate police patrols or lapses in school security, stressing that visits by School Liaison Officers (PPS) and routine patrols have continued and have, in fact, increased since directives issued by the Inspector-General of Police last year.
"In Selangor, police visits and patrols at schools are very good and have actually increased. There is no question of patrols being reduced or becoming merely routine.
"In this case, the suspect may have taken advantage of an opportunity. However, to suggest that police patrols were reduced is incorrect. This has also been acknowledged by the Selangor State Education Department," he said.
He added that police continue to work closely with the Selangor State Education Department at both state and district levels to share information on school safety, although there may occasionally be delays in communication.
According to investigators, the suspect entered the school compound through the main gate while it was temporarily open for people entering or leaving the premises.
"It cannot be concluded that there was a weakness on the part of the school. The gate may have been open because people were entering or exiting, and while it was in the process of being closed, the suspect took the opportunity to enter," Shazeli said.
Police have also confirmed receiving information that the suspect is an Orang Kurang Upaya (OKU) cardholder under the autism category, although the information is still being verified with the relevant authorities.
Investigators are examining whether social media may have influenced the teenager's thinking and behaviour as part of the broader investigation.
The suspect had reportedly not attended school for about eight months because of health-related issues and had been undergoing home-schooling.
Police also established that the teenager had previously been involved in an incident in which she fell from a school building towards the end of last year.
Shazeli said investigators are also assessing reports that the suspect had been experiencing emotional stress and depression, with experts continuing to evaluate her condition.
The victim remains in hospital in stable condition after allegedly being stabbed multiple times during the incident at about 9.30am on Monday.
The suspect was arrested on the same day and has been remanded until Friday to assist investigations under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder. - July 9, 2026
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