RECENTLY, a case went viral where two children made a police report themselves after they were raped by their father. Cases such as these were dime a dozen.
However, what made it special, or viral, was the fact that it happened in Kelantan. Just the mention of the state will rile up the online community, and for all the wrong reasons.
Stereotype, prejudice and perceived superiority come together in a comment section filled with hate.
While a few netizens had the sharpness to point out the main point in the news, that the victims had the awareness to protect themselves from further sexual abuse, quite a number of netizens were not so enlightened.
2 kanak-kanak dirogol bapa, bapa saudara di Kelantan tampil buat laporan polis sendiri
Aduan tersebut dibuat setelah kedua kanak-kanak perempuan itu melihat pendedahan dibuat oleh Polis Kelantan yang tular di TikTok sehingga mendorong mereka berani berbuat demikian.…
— SinarHarian (@SinarOnline) April 16, 2025
Netizen @kenapagarang sarcastically asked if the Kelantanese people do not pray. Another netizen said that instead of eating their own children, they should just take some money and pay for a prostitute instead. “Hopefully the children do not go home,” he added.
“Do we need to open a casino like the other states to reduce immorality,” @JatPuasaLagi wondered.
Then there was @ksampoh who said the case was not just a damnable crime. “It is a cracked mirror of Kelantan’s failing social system. If Kelantan’s leaders really want to be an Islamic model, prove it with comprehensive protection for the women and children,” he said, adding that the victims are not objects of shame, but god’s trust betrayed by a broken system.
The picture comment is equally interesting:
According to @DrumRamon, Kelantan is the champion where such crazy cases are concerned. Among all the hate, finally there came a voice of reason in the form of @zaleenaz.
“Congratulations, my sister, for being brave enough to file a report. I pray for your strength. Congratulations also to the Kelantan Police for exposing sexual crimes on social media,” she said.
Note that the complaint was made after the two victims saw an exposure made by the Kelantan Police that went viral on TikTok, which prompted them to do so.
Echoing @zaleenaz’s thoughts was @mr_pharmer who hoped that more people would find the bravery to file a police report.
But the chilling reality of the situation is best captured by @polanskilamb who said, “I wonder how many cases are not being reported?” —Apr 18, 2025
Main image: @SinarOnline (X)
