Selama police chief Sarudin Samah said the suspects, both in their 20s, are believed to be students at local institutions of higher learning.

“It’s unlikely that both suspects are in Perak and we have received assistance from police in areas where we feel they could be hiding,” he said.

“We believe that we can close this case if we arrest these two men.”

Sarudin said five suspects, aged between 18 and 26, were arrested and charged with gang rape under Section 375B of the Penal Code on Nov 14 in connection with the same case.

He said investigations into the case found that the victim met one of the suspects through social media.

The suspect went out with the girl when her parents were sleeping and persuaded her to have sex with him.

The other suspects then took turns raping the victim.

He said the girl kept the matter a secret from her parents until this month, when a police report was lodged on Nov 8.