Melaka teenager arrested after killing mother and brother in Bukit Rambai
A 17-year-old boy in Melaka has been arrested for killing his mother and elder brother and injuring his younger sibling in a pre-dawn knife attack, which police say was triggered by academic pressure and family tensions.
- A 17-year-old boy in Melaka fatally stabbed his mother and elder brother on 12 June 2025
- His 13-year-old brother was also stabbed but survived and remains in hospital
- Police cite academic stress and family tensions as the motive for the premeditated attack
- The suspect confessed and is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Cod
17-year-old boy has been arrested in Melaka after a brutal knife attack left his mother and elder brother dead, and his younger sibling hospitalised with injuries.
The killings took place on 12 June 2025 in Rambai Mutiara Garden, Bukit Rambai. Police said the incident was premeditated, driven by long-standing family conflict and stress over academic performance.
Attack in the early morning
Melaka police chief Dzulkhairi Mukhtar confirmed that the teenager targeted his mother first, attacking her as she slept at about 5 a.m. The family’s 21-year-old eldest son witnessed the assault and was fatally stabbed as well.
Both victims suffered multiple stab wounds to the neck, waist, and back. Their bodies were later found in the living room, surrounded by bloodstains. The weapon, a folding knife about 20 centimetres long, had been hidden in the suspect’s school bag beforehand.
Younger brother injured
The family’s youngest son, aged 13, was also in the home at the time. Police said the suspect ordered him to leave but stabbed him when he resisted.
The boy managed to escape to the roadside before collapsing. He was taken to Melaka Central Hospital and is reported to be in stable condition under intensive care.
Motive linked to academic pressure
Investigations point to academic stress and persistent family tensions as the key factors. The suspect, due to sit the Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM) exams, was reportedly under constant pressure from his mother and elder brother.
“Neighbours reported frequent arguments at the home, often involving the mother and elder brother scolding the suspect to study harder,” Mukhtar said. “The combination of stress and criticism may have caused him to lose emotional control.”
Neighbours told local media that quarrels had been common in the household for years. Initially, they assumed arguments involved the parents, but disputes continued even after the father’s death in January this year.
Arrest and confession
Police arrested the teenager at the crime scene. He confessed during interrogation, admitting that resentment over his mother’s constant scoldings led him to plan the attack.
Officers recovered evidence including the bloodstained school bag and surveillance footage. Authorities said the suspect attempted to destroy evidence after the killings.
No drugs or alcohol involved
Toxicology tests confirmed the suspect was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time. Police have ruled out external involvement, classifying the case as a domestic homicide.
The teenager is being investigated under Section 302 of the Malaysian Penal Code, which carries the death penalty for murder, though juveniles are typically spared capital punishment.
Community shocked
The killings have shocked the Bukit Rambai community. Neighbours familiar with the family described the outcome as tragic, despite having long been aware of frequent disputes in the household.
Police continue to gather forensic evidence and take witness statements as the investigation proceeds. Further legal action is expected once inquiries are complete.
