A teenage student in Malaysia has gone on trial over the alleged murder of a female classmate in a case that has drawn nationwide attention and intensified concerns about the impact of social media on young people.
The accused, who was 14 at the time of the incident, is charged with murdering 16-year-old Yap Shing Xuen in October last year, reports BBC.
The girl was discovered with multiple stab wounds inside a toilet at their secondary school on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur.
The boy has denied the charge. If found guilty, he could receive a prison sentence lasting several decades. Police have previously said they believed social media may have played a role in influencing the teenager.
Investigators also confirmed that a note was recovered from the boy when he was arrested. Media reports regarding the note’s alleged contents have further fueled public discussion about social media’s influence.
As the accused is still a minor, Malaysian law prohibits the publication of his identity.
His age also means he cannot receive the death penalty if convicted. However, he could face between 30 and 40 years in prison and may also be sentenced to flogging. Malaysia sets the age of criminal responsibility at 10.
The incident has deeply unsettled the country and prompted widespread debate about the harmful effects of social media on children, particularly their exposure to the manosphere and incel culture.
Many have drawn comparisons between the case and the Netflix series Adolescence, which examines similar issues involving teenage boys, online radicalisation and violence.
Last year, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was questioned about the case, along with other recent incidents of violence in schools.
He was quoted by local media as saying that “almost all of these issues stem from the use of mobile phones and social media”, and vowed to look into stricter measures.
Since then, authorities have introduced new regulations aimed at protecting children and limiting their exposure to harmful online material.
From June, Malaysia has prohibited children under the age of 16 from holding accounts on major social media platforms.
