When Students Made Headlines for the Wrong Reasons: 5 Cases That Shook M'sians to the Core

We all have our own school memories, the good, the embarrassing, and the ones we would rather forget. But some stories go beyond classroom drama and become moments that an entire country remembers.

Over the years, several student-related cases have shocked Malaysians, sparking conversations about school safety, bullying, and mental health.

Here is a look at some of the most talked-about cases involving students and school violence in Malaysia:

1. Zulfarhan Osman

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Described by a judge as one of the "rarest of rare" cases due to its severity, the incident involving Navy Cadet Officer Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain remains one of the most notorious cases of school violence and bullying in Malaysia.

In 2017, Zulfarhan, who was only 21 years old, was accused of stealing a laptop belonging to one of the offenders. Despite the lack of evidence, he was mercilessly beaten by multiple individuals over the course of two days at a hostel in the National Defence University of Malaysia (UPNM). 

On top of that, Zulfarhan suffered burns over 90% of his body, including his genitals, after being branded with a steam iron. On 1 June that year, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at Hospital Serdang.

Six students, Muhammad Akmal Zuhairi Azmal, Muhammad Asamuddin Mad Sofi, Muhammad Najib Mohd Razi, Muhammad Afif Najmudin Azahat, Mohamad Shobirin Sabri, and Abdoul Hakeem Mohd Ali, were convicted of murdering Zulfarhan and were initially sentenced to death. However, following the abolition of the mandatory death penalty in Malaysia, they successfully appealed their sentences and were subsequently sentenced to 18 years in prison.

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As the 18-year jail term runs from the date of their arrest in 2017, the six offenders are expected to remain behind bars until 2035. However, if they display good behaviour, they may be eligible for a one-third remission of their sentence and could serve only 12 years in prison.

2. Yap Shing Xuen

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On 14 October 2025, Yap Shing Xuen, a 16-year-old student, was found dead in a school toilet in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya. What made the case even more horrifying was that she had suffered more than 200 stab wounds after allegedly being attacked by a 15-year-old male student.

The incident reportedly took place at around 9:30 AM. The suspect, whose identity cannot be revealed due to his age, had allegedly brought two knives into the school. Witnesses later claimed they saw him wandering around the school in blood-stained clothing while still carrying a weapon.

There were claims that the suspect attacked Yap because she had rejected his romantic advances, but Yap’s mother denied the allegation, saying her daughter neither knew nor had spoken to him.

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The suspect is set to stand trial for 10 days in August over the alleged murder. However, as he was underage at the time of the offence, the death penalty cannot be imposed. Instead, Section 97(2) stipulates that a person convicted of such an offence shall be detained at the pleasure of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong if the offence occurred in the Federal Territories, or the Yang di-Pertua Negeri if it occurred in a state.

3. T. Nhaveen

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While this case did not occur on school grounds, T. Nhaveen’s story remains a heartbreaking reminder of how bullying can have devastating consequences.

In June 2017, 18-year-old Nhaveen and his friend, T. Previin, 19, became targets of a group of school bullies while walking to a burger stall at around 11 PM. What began as teasing quickly escalated into a violent assault after Previin tried to defend his friend.

Both Nhaveen and Previin were beaten with helmets and sticks, but Previin managed to escape with eye injuries. Nhaveen, however, was not as fortunate. He was found several hours later suffering from internal bleeding in his head and abdomen.

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Horrifyingly, the teenager was also reportedly sodomised with a blunt object and burned on his back. The attack left Nhaveen in a coma before he was eventually pronounced brain dead.

In court, Previin revealed that Nhaveen had often been targeted by bullies during his school years because he did not know how to fight back. A total of five individuals – J. Ragesuthen, S. Gokulan, both aged 18, two others aged 17, and another who had just turned 18 in July 2017 – were charged with Nhaveen’s murder. The Penang High Court has set October 2026 as the trial dates for the accused.

4. Zara Qairina

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Zara Qairina was a 13-year-old student at an Islamic boarding school in Sabah. In July 2025, she was found unconscious near her dormitory and was believed to have fallen from the third floor of the building. She was later declared brain dead, and her family made the heartbreaking decision to withdraw life support.

In the days following her death, public attention on the case intensified, and allegations that Zara had been a victim of bullying began to surface.

In August, five teenage girls were charged in court with allegedly using abusive words against Zara that were purportedly heard by her and could have caused emotional distress. The five reportedly pleaded not guilty to charges of using threatening or abusive language or communication.

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Meanwhile, consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Chua Sze Hung said an assessment found that Zara’s death involved more suicide risk factors than protective factors at the time of the incident. As of this writing, legal proceedings related to her death remain ongoing.

5. The Banting school stabbing

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In the most recent case involving school violence, a 15-year-old girl was remanded following an alleged stabbing incident that left another schoolgirl with multiple stab wounds and an injury to her left lung.

According to Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan, the suspect allegedly told investigators that the attack stemmed from pent-up feelings of dissatisfaction towards several schoolmates. She also claimed to have been a victim of bullying by her classmates, including the victim.

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Police further said that the suspect had entered the school compound through an open gate. However, authorities stressed that it was still too early to determine whether there had been any security lapse or negligence on the part of the school's security personnel.

The case is being investigated under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder. Police are also seeking a second remand extension for the suspect.

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