Overview
- The 14-year-old was charged in a closed-door session at the Petaling Jaya Magistrate’s Court, with no plea recorded because murder cases fall under High Court jurisdiction, and a psychiatric evaluation was ordered.
- Police say the suspect allegedly attacked 16-year-old Yap Shing Xuen in the girls’ toilet at SMK Bandar Utama Damansara on Oct 14, and she died from multiple stab wounds to the chest and neck.
- While murder can carry the death penalty or decades in prison for adults, Section 97(1) of the Child Act 2001 prevents capital punishment for offenders under 18.
- Authorities have outlined near-term steps to bolster safety in schools, including increased police presence, and the prime minister said a smartphone ban for students under 16 is being considered.
- Debate over online controls has intensified after police said the suspect bought knives via an e-commerce platform, as the government pushes eKYC identity checks that critics warn threaten privacy; student activists also submitted an 11-point school-safety memo and called for the education minister’s resignation.