“LIES, damned lies and statistics” is a popular adage used to describe the persuasive power of numbers and how they can be manipulated to bolster weak arguments.
That seems the bone of contention by PAS information chief Fadhli Shaari who complained of blatant twisting of facts to suit a certain narrative.
The Pasir Mas MP was referring specifically to DAP lawmaker RSN Rayer for allegedly manipulating the storyline to paint Kelantan as a state with record high of sexual crimes against children.
For starters, Fadhli was in no doubt that Rayer had acted improperly when debating on the Sexual Offences Against Children (Amendment) Bill 2026 in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (June 29) as the latter chose to attack Kelantan instead of being objective.
Moreover, instead of relying on the Malaysian Children’s Statistics 2025 by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) which leveragh4s official data from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and the Social Welfare Department, the Jelutong MP had cited a letter to editor entitled “Kelantan and Sexual Crimes Against Children: No Solution in Sight” published by news portal Free Malaysia Today on May 27.
“I’ve read the entire article. In fact, there is not a single table, not a single figure and not a single official statistic stating that Kelantan is the highest state,” lamented Fadhli in his Facebook rant.
“The article only compiles a few high-profile cases that have occurred in Kelantan before making a general conclusion about the entire state.
Since when can an article that doesn’t contain official statistics like this be used as an argument by a lawmaker?
is main culprit
According to Fadhli, Pakatan Harapan (PH)-ruled Selangor topped the list on sexual crimes involving victims aged 18 and below in 2023 with 368 cases, followed by Sabah (215), Johor (200), Kedah (172) and Kelantan (124).
“Kelantan isn’t the highest state, in fact it’s behind the other four states,” underlined the obviously irate former PAS Youth chief.
Again, Selangor has the number of sexual offences involving children (presumably below 12 years old) in 2024 with 438 cases in 2024, followed by Johor (27), Perak (184), Sabah (155), Kuala Lumpur (140), Penang (119), Melaka (108), Kedah (102) cases while Kelantan only had 91 cases.
“If it’s true that Kelantan is the worst-hit state as claimed, why do the government’s own official statistics show that at least eight states have recorded a higher number of cases?” asked the indignant Kelantan-born politician.
Not only that. The statistics on physical abuse of children also show that Selangor recorded the hugest figure at 308 cases in 2023, followed by Johor (107), Kuala Lumpur (64), Penang (55) and Perak (49) while Kelantan only had 17 cases.
If logic of the DAP lawmaker is that a state can be labelled based on crime statistics, is he also willing to label Selangor as the worst state in physical abuse of children?
Of course not. Because that is not how statistics are used. He only chooses data that suits his political narrative.
All in all, Rayer was accused of “cherry-picking” and “misrepresenting” the data to suit his agenda.
Sexual crimes against children are not a PAS issue, not a PH issue, not a Kelantan issue and not a Selangor issue,” rued the Cairo’s al-Azhar University alumni.
It’s a national issue. Every case is a tragedy that must be addressed regardless of the state and regardless of the ruling party.
But exploiting the suffering of victims to campaign in the Johor state election while slandering a state without being supported by official statistics is an irresponsible and unworthy act by an MP. – July 1, 2026
- Focus Malaysia
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