Purported attempts to kidnap school students reported in Kelantan, Perak

UPDATED 4.40PM | Several schools in Kelantan recently issued reminders to parents to pick up their children after school on time, warning them about the potential risk of kidnapping.

This followed a purported attempt to kidnap a school student in the state recently. A similar incident had also allegedly occurred at a school in Perak.

Among the schools in Kelantan which issued the warning is a primary school in Machang that sent out an official letter with the title “Reminder on the risk of kidnapping.” The letter has since gone viral on social media.

"It is to be informed that recently, there have been incidents of school students getting kidnapped. Thus the school would like parents or guardians to do as follows:

1) To send and pick up your children on time.

2) Always remind your children to be careful.

3) Cooperate with the school to address any case of kidnapping.

The letter signed by the school head teacher was sent out yesterday (Sept 25).

Apart from the primary school in Machang, it was learnt that there were also parents at another school in the state who received similar warnings via the school’s WhatsApp group.

"Since kidnapping cases had started to occur around Kelantan, parents are reminded to come early to school to pick up their children.

"This is so that we can avoid anything untoward from happening to our children.

"Please remind our children too that they should not trust and follow any stranger. If you have difficulty picking up your children on time, please contact the school office or the class teacher for our transit service," said a reminder received by parents of a school in Kota Bharu.

Schools' initiative

Meanwhile, the Kelantan State Education Department when contacted confirmed that several of its schools had issued such warnings.

It said the reminders were sent out on the respective schools' initiative and did not come from the department.

On Sept 22, an audio recording had gone viral on social media claiming that there was an attempted kidnapping of a student at a school in Gua Musang.

Following this, Gua Musang district police chief Sik Choon Foo in a media statement said police have launched an investigation and reminded parents not to be late in picking up their children from school to avoid any untoward incident.

"Police also want to remind the people not to make any speculation," Sik said.

Man in a white van

In Perak, police reportedly have set up a special task force to investigate a similar incident, where a man came in a white van and allegedly tried to abduct a female student in front of a primary school in Taman Pinji Mewah, Ipoh, last Friday.

Perak police chief Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri was quoted by Utusan Malaysia as saying that they received a report on the incident from the girl's mother on Friday evening.

Police have since set up a special task force and launched an investigation.

"Police are also cooperating with the state education department and the school to heighten security at the premises," he reportedly said in a statement.

Yusri also urged members of the public not to make any speculations so as not to jeopardise the police probe into the matter.

Those who have information on the incident are urged to contact the Ipoh District police headquarters to facilitate the investigation. They can also call the senior investigating officer who is handling the case, Norazlina Rais Ahmad, at 013-6282176.

"Parents and guardians are advised to send and pick up their children at the designated time and they should inform the school if they are not able to make it on time.

"The school has also been reminded that they must ensure only their legal guardians are allowed to pick up the students," he said.

According to the news report, the incident allegedly occurred about 1pm last Friday when the girl was said to have been approached by a man, who tried to lure her to get onto his van by promising to give the student some candy.

However, the girl refused the man's offer and the mangrabbed the student's arm and tried to pull her into the vehicle.

The victim then screamed for help and a security guard rushed to the scene. The man immediately fled.

Police investigating attempted kidnapping claims in Gua Musang

Second victory for S'porean in unlawful detention challenge

14-year-old girl, boyfriend plead not guilty to kidnapping baby

Five nabbed for attempted kidnapping of 9-month-old baby girl

Despite groping incidents, security still lacking in mall's car park

Teen escapes kidnap bid in front of school