KUALA LUMPUR: There has been a disturbing rise in brutal and sadistic crimes in recent months.
One of the most shocking recent cases was the murder of teacher Istiqomah Ahmad Rozi, whose decapitated body was discovered in a trash bin near a drain in Kampung Rimau, Johor.
In July, the nation was shocked by the death of Nur Farah Kartini Abdullah, 25, a graduate from Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI), who was killed by a police officer.
Shortly after the discovery of Istiqomah's body, news broke of another tragedy—a family of three who perished in a murder-cum-arson in Kampung Paya Redan, Pagoh, last week.
Additionally, a woman who had been reported missing and had gained viral attention was found dead under suspicious circumstances in her bedroom in Indera Mahkota, Kuantan, Pahang, earlier this week.
On Friday, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said police have recorded 860 murder cases nationwide over the past three years, from 2021 to June of this year, with an average of five murder cases occurring weekly during this period.
"The victims included 62 children, 106 individuals aged 15 to 25 years, 541 victims aged 26 to 60 years, 98 victims aged 60 and above, and 140 whose ages could not be determined," Razarudin added.
He noted that 95 per cent of the cases were solved due to the efforts of the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and public cooperation.
There is a growing perception that offenders are not only defying the law but are doing so with an alarming lack of remorse.
Associate Professor Dr. Salawati Mat Basir from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) said the current legal framework seems inadequate in deterring such criminal behaviour.
"People today appear to be increasingly fearless of the law. Some even seem to disregard legal consequences, believing they can evade strict penalties through legal loopholes," she said.
She noted that while Malaysia's legal system is robust, some believe they can escape severe punishment through the court system.
"It seems that many no longer regard the law as a deterrent in their lives. Some perceive it as something that can be manipulated or bypassed if they commit serious crimes," she added.
She said the underlying causes of these brutal crimes often involve complex societal factors, including psychological issues, financial problems, and personal disputes.
"Not all criminal cases are identical; they can stem from various motives such as financial gain, theft, or personal vendettas. However, when these crimes result in loss of life, they are particularly alarming," she said.
Despite official statements claiming a decline in crime rates, the public remains deeply unsettled by high-profile cases of violence.
"Controversial and sensational cases tend to make a lasting impression on the public and heighten safety concerns," she added.
Here are some of the murder cases that have captured the attention of the nation:
1. On Jan 6, a headless woman's body, missing both hands and feet, was found in a trash bin along the Alor Gajah-Tampin road near Kampung Rimau, Pulau Sebang.
DNA testing conducted on Aug 2 confirmed the body was that of 33-year-old teacher Istiqomah Ahmad Rozi, who had been missing since Dec 27, last year.
2. Nur Farah Kartini Abdullah, a graduate of Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI), was reported missing on July 11. Her body was found on July 15 in an oil palm plantation in Kampung Sri Kledang, Felda Gedangsa, Hulu Selangor.
The suspect, Lance Corporal Muhammad Alif Monjani, 26, is now facing charges of murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
3. On Dec 6, 2023, around 10pm, the body of autistic child Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matiin was found in a drain near a water reservoir, 200m from his home at Idaman Apartments, Damansara Damai, Petaling Jaya.
4. On May 22, 2023, 21-year-old Nur Anisah Abdul Wahab was beaten to death by her boyfriend, who then slit her abdomen and burned her body in an oil palm plantation in Sungai Limau, Sungai Besar, Selangor.
5. On Nov 1, 2020, 19-year-old Siti Nur Surya Ismail was found dead at her home in Kampung Lubuk Batu, Telemong, Hulu Terengganu, Terengganu. Her left wrist was severed, and she had other injuries to her face and body. The primary suspect is her close friend.
6. On Sept 14, 2017, at around 5.10am, a fire broke out at the Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah Tahfiz Center, resulting in the deaths of 23 occupants, including 21 students and two teachers.
7. On June 1, 2017, Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain, a student at Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM), died at the Serdang Hospital after being tortured by fellow students. The Court of Appeal has sentenced six former UPNM students to death for his murder.
8. In 2017, eight-year-old Nurin Jazlin Jazimin was reported missing after leaving for a night market near her home in Section 1, Wangsa Maju. Her body was later discovered in a sports bag left in front of a shophouse at PJS 1/48, Petaling Jaya. The case, involving both her murder and rape, remains unsolved with the perpetrator still at large.
9. On December 5, 2023, 22-year-old part-time model Noritta Samsudin was found dead, with her neck strangled by a pillowcase and her hands and feet bound with iron wires at her rented home in Puncak Prima Condominium, Sri Hartamas. The identity of her killer remains unknown, and the case remains unsolved.
10. Datuk Anthony Kevin Morais, the deputy head of the Appeals and Litigation Division at the Attorney General's Chambers and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), was reported missing on Sept 4, 2015. His body was later discovered in a concrete-filled barrel at Jalan Subang 3, Taman Subang Mewah, USJ 1, Petaling Jaya.
11. In Sept 2010, cosmetic mogul Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya was brutally murdered along with three others in Morib, Selangor. Their bodies were disposed of and burned at a poultry farm near Tanjung Layang, Morib.
12. The high-profile murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu occurred between 10pm on Oct 19 and 1am on Oct 20, 2006, in Mukim Bukit Raja, near Shah Alam, Selangor. Her body was discovered on Nov 7, 2006, 17 days after she was blown up by explosives.
13. IT analyst Canny Ong Lay Kian was brutally killed on June 13, 2003. Her body was later burned in a hole/drain at a construction site for the New Pantai Expressway, Petaling Jaya, on June 17, 2003.
14. Computer engineer Noor Suzaily Mukhtar was raped, sodomised, and killed aboard a tour bus while on her way to work on Oct 7, 2000.