The rise in sexual assault cases: Building a safer Malaysia, together

 

HOME Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail was recently reported as saying in Parliament that an average of five rape cases were reported daily between 2015 and 2025, with Selangor recording the highest number.

He said police statistics show that between 2015 and 2025, 17,609 rape cases were investigated, with 7,090 resulting in charges. During the same period, Selangor recorded the highest number at 3,392 cases, with 1,575 charges.

How do we Malaysian feel about the moral scenario? That heaviness when I read the news? The recent report showing five rape cases a day over the last ten years stopped me in my tracks. It’s the kind of number that’s easy to scroll past, but hard to forget.

It’s not just a statistic for the government to handle. It’s a wound in the heart of our nation. And if we want it to heal, it’s going to take all of us.

The strength we already have

(Image: Malay Mail)

The beautiful thing about Malaysia is that we don’t have to look far for answers. Walk down any street and you’ll pass a mosque, a temple, a church, a gurdwara. We are a people rich in faith.

The wisdom is already there, woven into the fabric of who we are. The question is: are we truly living it?

When a woman doesn’t feel safe walking alone, when a girl is afraid to speak up, when a survivor stays silent out of shame—it’s not just a failure of the law but also a failure to live up to our own deepest values.

So, what’s really going on?

Life has changed so fast. Our kids are growing up in a world we couldn’t have imagined twenty years ago.

They are learning about relationships not from family, but from screens. They are navigating peer pressure, online content, and a digital world that often rewards the wrong things.

And while the world has changed, sometimes our conversations haven’t. We are still awkward about talking to our children about respect, boundaries, and consent. We assume they would figure it out. But in a world full of noise, they need our voices more than ever.

It starts at home, and It grows from there

This isn’t about pointing fingers. It’s about rolling up our sleeves.

In our families, we can create space for real talk. Let’s be the ones our kids come to when they’re confused or scared. Let’s teach our sons that strength means respect, and our daughters that their voice matters.

In our schools, let’s teach more than exams. Let’s teach kindness, empathy, and courage. Let’s help young people understand what a healthy relationship looks like.

In our communities, let’s break the silence. Let’s support parents who are struggling. Let’s stand with survivors and let them know they are not alone.

In our institutions, let’s demand fairness. When the legal system works with transparency and compassion, it sends a message: justice is for everyone.

The power of “together”

(Image: The Straits Times)

Imagine what would happen if all of us stood together on this. Imagine religious leaders speaking with one voice, saying: “This is not who we are. This is not what our faith teaches.”

That kind of unity is powerful. It can shift mindsets. It can change culture.

This moment is not about blame. It’s about renewal. It’s about looking at ourselves—as parents, as neighbours, as friends—and asking: “What can I do to make things better?”

Malaysia is not broken. We are a nation of warmth, of kindness, of people who look out for each other. But we are being called to wake up. To be better. To make sure that every person—regardless of gender—feels safe, respected, and valued.

This isn’t a job for the government alone. It’s not just for activists or religious leaders. It’s for all of us.

Let’s walk this path together. Let’s build a Malaysia where our actions match our prayers. Where our faith isn’t just something we profess, but something we “live”—in the way we treat each other, every single day.

Because a safer, more compassionate Malaysia isn’t just a dream. It’s something we can build, together, right now. 

 KT Maran is a Focus Malaysia viewer.

The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.

- Focus Malaysia.