While Negeri Sembilan police chief Alzafny Ahmad did not reveal actual numbers, he said it was not a great increase.

“These cases include bullying, sexual harassment, and violence. I don’t have the statistics right now, but based on daily monitoring and checks, there is a slight increase.

“It is only about a 0.2% increase,” Berita Harian reported him as saying at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia today.

Alzafny also said Negeri Sembilan police do not plan to inspect students’ phones like their counterparts in Melaka.

“We are more focused on awareness and educating students in primary schools,” he said.

On Oct 23, Melaka police said they will carry out daily surprise visits to schools and conduct spot checks on students’ phones as part of efforts to curb juvenile crimes in the state.

Melaka police chief Dzulkhairi Mukhtar said the surprise visits and inspections are in line with the home ministry’s directive for police to increase their presence in schools following the recent spate of crimes involving students.

Alzafny said police have identified several schools in Negeri Sembilan, particularly boarding schools, for inspection with the help of the education ministry.