In the north Malaysian state of Kelantan, its police chief Deputy Commissioner Datuk Shafien Mamat stated that the state has recorded a worrying trend of rape cases this year involving minors and school-going children as young as 13-years-old.

DCP Shafien disclosed that 51 rape cases were reported from January to July compared to 39 cases for the corresponding period last year.

Initial investigations revealed that those involved met through social networking sites such as Facebook or WhatsApp.

In the capital city of Kelantan, Kota Baru, there were 16 cases of rape reported for the period January to July this year compared to only five cases for the same period last year.

In addition, 14 cases of incest were reported compared to 15 cases for the same period of January to July last year.

In cases involving minors between the ages of 13 and 16, the victims were raped in their own homes or when they were at the suspects homes when the parents were not around.

Police have issued a strict caution for parents to always monitor their children’s whereabouts and who they mix or associate.

But sources familiar with the issue of sex crimes in Kelantan revealed that these reported cases are just the tip of the iceberg as there are many other incidences of rape or incest that go unreported.

The state of Kelantan also suffers from having the highest number of divorce cases in Malaysia and sexual crimes and sexual deviancy is not new.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE