KOTA BHARU - Kelantan has witnessed a worrying rise in sexual crimes against teenagers, with 116 victims under 16 recorded from January to December 17 this year, compared to 91 throughout 2022.
The majority of cases involve rape, sodomy, and lewd acts.
Kelantan Police Chief Datuk Muhammad Zaki Harun highlighted the disturbing trend, stressing that 72 school students and 44 non-school students, both under 16, fell victim to these crimes this year.
While the number of student perpetrators under 19 decreased to 12, a concerning rise to four non-student perpetrators emerged compared to none last year.
"For victims under the age of 16 who are not school students, a total of 21 individuals were recorded last year, increasing to 44 individuals in the same period this year," he told reporters after inaugurating the Kelantan Police Chief's Pocket Talk Programme 2023: Social Symptoms of Teens-Are We Gone? in Kota Darulnaim today.
He said during the period in question, sexual crime suspects among students under the age of 19, however, decreased from 21 individuals to 12 individuals.
"For non-student suspects, there has been an increase from zero suspects last year to four suspects this year," he said.
Under the Sexual Offences Against Children Act (AKSTK), 57 student victims and nine non-school victims under 18 were recorded this year, compared to 44 and 8 in 2022.
Arrests also followed this pattern, with six student and 20 non-student perpetrators apprehended under AKSTK in 2023, compared to six and eight respectively in the previous year.
Disturbed by these statistics, Zaki urged the community to work together with the police to address this critical issue.
"Parents play a crucial role in ensuring their children's safety, both as potential victims and perpetrators.
"It's our collective responsibility to nurture the younger generation into responsible and future leaders," he added.