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By Mihar Dias April 2025
A recent report by Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat has brought to light a deeply troubling reality: the state is facing a social crisis of alarming proportions. https://newswav.com/A2504_5rKFQI?s=A_e8Yxcd8&language=en
In just three months, rape cases have increased by 15.6%, with many involving children as young as 10 and 11. https://newswav.com/A2504_5rKFQI?s=A_e8Yxcd8&language=en
These are not isolated incidents—they reflect a systemic failure across multiple layers of society.
The nature of the cases is harrowing. Many qualify legally as statutory rape, while some involve incestuous relationships with close family members.
That such abuse could occur—and in some instances, be known to parents who did not intervene—signals a breakdown in the very foundations of familial and communal responsibility. https://newswav.com/A2504_5rKFQI?s=A_e8Yxcd8&language=en
Contributing to this crisis are multiple compounding factors: the unchecked use of technology, parental neglect, substance abuse, and a lack of meaningful engagement with youth. Together, they form a perfect storm—one that Kelantan appears ill-equipped to weather.
This is especially jarring for a state often described as the Serambi Mekah (Verandah of Mecca), long regarded as a symbol of Islamic values and moral governance. https://newswav.com/A2504_5rKFQI?s=A_e8Yxcd8&language=en
But there is now a clear and troubling disconnect between Kelantan's conservative public image and the disturbing realities on the ground.
The question must be asked: how effective is a governance model that fails to protect its most vulnerable?
While the increase in armed robbery and violent crime may seem modest in comparison, it reinforces a broader trend of societal instability. The warning signs are not subtle—they are flashing red.
Addressing this crisis requires more than police reports and reactive measures. It demands a comprehensive, long-term strategy.
Moral and civic education must be overhauled to better equip children with a sense of right and wrong.
Parents and guardians need support systems that help them engage meaningfully with their children. Communities must be mobilised to monitor, support, and intervene where necessary. And digital literacy programmes must be implemented urgently to shield youth from harmful content online.
Just as importantly, political leaders must engage in honest self-reflection. Are current policies genuinely addressing the needs of Kelantan’s youth and families, or are they driven by image, ideology, and inertia?
This is a moment of reckoning for Kelantan. The state must confront its contradictions and take bold, concrete steps to rebuild the system of care, trust, and accountability that have eroded over time. The lives, dignity, and futures of its children depend on it.
The time for action is not tomorrow—it is now.
Mihar Dias is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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