A Malaysian boy appeared in court last year for the murder of a female student inside a school bathroom, in a case that sparked calls to control children's access to social media.
Foreign news agencies reported on 3 Aug 2026 that a 15-year-old Malaysian boy appeared in court over the murder of a schoolmate, a shocking case that drew widespread attention and sparked nationwide debate on social media's impact on children and youth.
The boy is accused of murdering Yap Shing Xuen, a 16-year-old female student, in October 2025. Her body was found in a bathroom of a secondary school in Kuala Lumpur, with multiple stab wounds causing her death.
The suspect, who was 14 at the time of the incident, denies all charges. Being a juvenile, Malaysian law prohibits revealing his name publicly and excludes the death penalty as a punishment.
However, if found guilty, the boy could face 30 to 40 years in prison and may be subjected to corporal punishment by caning, which is allowed for offenders aged 10 and above.
Initially, police suspect social media influenced the suspect to commit the tragic act. Authorities found two notes on him at the time of arrest describing everyone at school and in society as mere “NPC” characters—game characters that players cannot control.
He also referenced the manga Death Note, professed love for the deceased female student, and wrote that they would leave this world together. Additionally, he mentioned several school shootings worldwide and ended with hateful remarks about the school, society, and teachers, stating a desire for revenge on the school.
The notes circulated online, fueling social criticism and triggering national discussions about social media's negative effects, especially exposure to misogynistic content. Some compared this to the Netflix series Adolescence.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim commented that most school violence stems from mobile phone and social media use, promising stricter measures to address the problem.
Since June, Malaysia has banned children under 16 from opening accounts on all major social media platforms, citing protection against harmful content as the reason.
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Source:bbc