PETALING JAYA: In a few clicks, a knife is yours – a butterfly blade, a kerambit, even a machete – and it can cost less than RM5.
Marketed as harmless “collectibles”, these weapons can be bought online in seconds, with no proof of age required.
A simple keyword search yields dozens of listings. Some are tagged “18+ only” but the items can be purchased without age verification.
Experts are now calling for age verification and tighter controls on their online sale, warning that the lack of regulation is turning dangerous weapons into casual, everyday purchases.
Criminologist Dr Zalmizy Hussin said Malaysia should be “very concerned” about the growing accessibility of knives and combat blades sold online, often for as little as RM5 to RM20 with no age checks.
“When dangerous items are sold this cheaply, young people can easily purchase them without restriction.
“This lowers the barrier to obtaining a weapon and increases the risk of misuse, particularly in moments of anger or impulsive behaviour,” he said.
He added that online marketplaces have made weapon ownership appear “ordinary or harmless”, normalising the act of carrying knives among youth and raising the likelihood of violent incidents in schools or communities.
“The anonymity of online trading and high volume of low-cost transactions make regulation difficult.
“Many knives are marketed under generic categories, slipping through oversight.
“Without strict accountability, enforcement becomes reactive – only addressing the issue after harm occurs,” he said.
Zalmizy also warned that the digital marketplace has changed the nature of violence itself.
“With just a few clicks, even those with little intent to do harm can obtain weapons.
“Studies show many offenders only acquired their weapons days before committing a crime,” he said, urging coordinated policy action.
Introducing knife-sale laws similar to Singapore’s or the UK’s Ronan’s Law, he added, could help if enforcement is strong and adapted to Malaysia’s context.
“In the United Kingdom, photo ID checks and penalties for selling knives to minors are mandatory.
“But Malaysia’s enforcement challenges and informal online trade mean regulations must be practical and well-funded.”
Child rights activist Datuk Dr Hartini Zainuddin described the absence of age verification for knife sales as “negligence, not oversight”.
“When knives, machetes and even replica weapons can be bought without a single age check, we are putting danger into the hands of minors.
“Children can buy a weapon as easily as they buy a phone case,” she said.
She called for joint accountability among government agencies and online platforms.
“If e-commerce companies can verify age for digital wallets, they can certainly do it for weapons.
“KPDN (Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry), MCMC (Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission) and the Education Ministry must coordinate a response.
“Sellers should declare items with warnings, and unsafe listings must be removed,” she said.
Hartini added that beyond laws, Malaysia must address the root cause of violence.
“Violence prevention should be taught as seriously as mathematics. We must stop romanticising aggression in politics and entertainment.
“Every knife sold online is a mirror reflecting what we’ve ignored for too long – our silence and our example,” she said.
Parent Action Group for Education chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said Malaysia should combine UK- and Singapore-style online controls with local enforcement realities.
“Age and delivery ID checks can curb impulsive knife access.
“But access is only part of the problem – schools and parents must also teach safety skills, emotional regulation and digital marketplace awareness,” she said.
Children’s commissioner at the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) Dr Mohd Al Adib Samuri said there are clear legal gaps that allow minors to access dangerous items, as existing laws only regulate possession.
“Under the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958, it’s an offence to carry offensive weapons in public, but there’s no prohibition or age-check requirement for minors to buy knives,” he said.
He said the recent school stabbing case highlighted how easily a child could order a knife online, stressing that Malaysia’s laws must be updated to close these loopholes.
“In the United Kingdom, no one under 18 can buy a knife, whether in-store or online, while Singapore has tightened its list of regulated weapons.
“Online sellers here should be required to verify buyers’ age using MyKad or digital ID, and delivery riders must confirm the recipient’s age,” he said.
Al Adib urged stronger coordination between the Education, Communications and Domestic Trade ministries to regulate e-commerce platforms, enhance school safety and curb exposure to violent content online.
“Education can strengthen counselling and conflict management in schools, MCMC can ensure platforms block underage buyers and KPDN can act against sellers who ignore safety rules.
“Ultimately, laws can close loopholes, but education and awareness are what truly change behaviour.
“Children must learn that knives are tools, not toys – and that violence brings pain, not power,” he added.
