Activist advocates for shutting down re-education residences due to escalating incidents of abuse
In recent times, Malaysia has seen a concerning increase in child sexual abuse cases, particularly within religious schools and hostels. The Selangor Islamic religious department (Jais) has issued a stern warning, stating that any religious school found to be involved in such offences could face closure [1].
The rise in cases is attributed to several factors, including early and unsupervised access to smartphones and the internet, which exposes children to online predators. These predators often groom and exploit children digitally [3]. Additionally, there has been a general rise in risky sexual behaviour among adolescents, with trends showing younger victims and higher incidences of rape and exploitation.
Amidst these troubling developments, Nazir Ariff, the founder of the Children's Protection Society, has expressed concerns about the safety of hostels that lack proper oversight. He has also noted that cultural norms, such as salam (handshakes), can be misused as grooming tools [4].
Recent cases have come to light, such as a 38-year-old warden at a Quranic centre in Negeri Sembilan who was sentenced to six years in prison and four strokes of the cane for sodomizing and molesting seven boys aged between nine and 12 [5]. Similarly, four students from Tahfiz Darul Quran Ittifaqiyyah in Selangor were found with injuries consistent with abuse and sexual assault [2].
In response, authorities have documented a sharp increase in reported cases, with Kelantan experiencing a 17% rise in early 2025. Police investigations reveal patterns of grooming through social media and illicit messaging [3].
To combat this issue, prevention measures for religious schools and hostels should include strengthening digital literacy education, implementing comprehensive sexuality education, enforcing strict child protection policies, training staff in recognising signs of abuse, and collaborating with law enforcement and child welfare agencies [1][3].
Creating safe spaces and open communication channels is crucial to breaking the culture of silence that allows abuse to persist. This requires a multi-sectoral approach involving education, law enforcement, health services, and families to prevent abuse and protect vulnerable children in Malaysia’s religious schooling and residential settings [1][3][4].
Nazir Ariff calls for the reintroduction of age-appropriate sex education, taught under a neutral subject name, to help children understand safe and unsafe touch, consent, and personal boundaries. He emphasises that the increase in reported cases is not due to an increase in abuse, but rather a growing public willingness to speak out [4].
In conclusion, addressing child sexual abuse in Malaysia's religious schools necessitates a collective effort from all sectors of society. By implementing these preventative measures and fostering open communication, we can work towards creating a safer environment for our children.
- The rise in child sexual abuse cases in Malaysia, particularly within religious schools and hostels, has led to a call for strengthening digital literacy education and implementing comprehensive sexuality education as preventative measures.
- The founder of the Children's Protection Society, Nazir Ariff, has noted that cultural norms, such as salam (handshakes), can be misused as grooming tools in religious school settings and has called for the reintroduction of age-appropriate sex education.
- Amidst the growing concern over child sexual abuse, recent cases have been reported, including a warden at a Quranic centre receiving a six-year prison sentence for molesting seven boys.
- In response to the increase in child sexual abuse cases, a multi-sectoral approach involving education, law enforcement, health services, and families is being advocated to create safe spaces and open communication channels, breaking the culture of silence that allows abuse to persist in Malaysia's religious schooling and residential settings.
