KUALA LUMPUR – The recent exposé of a teacher who has supposedly been grooming her high school student, resulting in a “relationship”, has triggered a heated online debate.
Certain quarters are condemning those who claim to see no wrong in the situation.
In a thread post on X, user @facelesspectre lamented how some people on Instagram appear to be of the view that the 37-year-old teacher, who is said to be a mother and wife, has the freedom to pursue the 17-year-old.
Many others also commented that the student’s sister – the one who took to social media to accuse the teacher of grooming her underage brother – should not have publicly aired the duo’s “aib” (disgrace).
One such comment, as screen captured by the user and shared on X, asserted that it would be “pointless” to prevent the relationship between the two as their feelings are “mutual”.
“Now your whole village, including your parents, have to bear the shame because of your actions,” the comment read, referring to how the student’s sister had posted the details of the alleged relationship on social media.
Another comment with similar sentiments downplaying the sister’s claims said that age should not be an “obstacle in love and marriages”. It also added that “proper discussions” could still be held on the matter even if the teacher is married.
“There are plenty of students and teachers who get married. Are you not ashamed of exposing the teacher’s aib?
“It’s something that can be settled, why bother making this a big issue?”
“(The student) is already grown up at 17 years old anyways,” a separate comment added.
In response to such comments, some users on X highlighted that the mindset of treating such alleged sexual grooming situations as a “suka sama suka” (mutually romantic) relationship should not be encouraged.
“As a Malaysian, I feel angry and ashamed when I see supporters like these.
“Wrong means wrong…this mindset in our society makes cases like these (go) under the radar,” one commenter said.
In a now-deleted post, the student’s sister had previously claimed that she felt pushed to expose the matter online as she could no longer tolerate the situation.
She alleged that there was no legal basis to take action against the teacher as the relationship was said to be consensual.
She also shared messages between the two declaring their “love” for each other, prompting sections of netizens to stress that the situation between the student and teacher appears to be an instance of grooming.
Under the Child Act 2001, a child is defined as an individual below the age of eighteen years.
Section 12 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 criminalises child grooming, with those found guilty of the offence liable to an imprisonment term of up to five years and whipping.
Yesterday, Sepang police chief Wan Kamarul Azran Wan Yusof confirmed receiving a report about a female teacher for allegedly grooming her Form 5 student, noting that the report was lodged by the boy’s mother on December 12 last year.
In a statement, Wan Kamarul said that the 46-year-old mother had filed the report after she noticed red marks on her son’s neck. The boy claimed they were due to kisses from his teacher.
The victim has since been referred to the hospital for a medical evaluation while police carry out investigations under Section 14 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act for physical assault on a child. – March 25, 2024