Written by Izzah Dejavu
“A predator can groom a child for sex in just one hour,”1 warns Senior Assistant Commissioner Siti Kamsiah Hassan, head of the Bukit Aman CID Sexual, Women and Children Crime Investigation Division (D11).
One hour is all it takes—that’s how little time it takes for a predator to infiltrate a child’s world. Social media becomes a tool for manipulation, a window into the lives of the vulnerable.
“We cannot avoid the fact that educating children starts at home,” she reminds us. “Parents must teach their children about self-control, the risks around them, and how to assess them. Crimes now start from the comfort of your own home.”
But the question that remains unanswered—or perhaps one that many lack the courage to confront—is this: How do we start a conversation about something shrouded in silence while the very idea of grooming, sexual harassment2, and child exploitation3 is still considered taboo4 in Malaysia?
Malaysia and Religious Conservatism
Across Southeast Asia, digital rights are no longer just about access—they are about survival in an increasingly monitored5 and manipulated online world. In Malaysia, the convergence of growing religious conservatism6 and digital control is reshaping how society engages in conversations7 about sex education and safety. This conservatism is not just present in the policies governing public life but is deeply rooted in how families and communities perceive morality.8
For women and girls especially, talking about sex—even in the context of safety and consent—remains shrouded in stigma and shame9. This culture of silence doesn’t just suppress conversations; it systematically excludes women and girls from critical discussions about their own safety, where women have experienced limited access to public discourse and decision-making.10 This further widens the gap in digital literacy, deepening this vulnerability. Without the tools to navigate online spaces safely, young people are left exposed to exploitation11, cyberbullying, and grooming12. Meanwhile, adults struggle to bridge this conversation with their children—not because they don’t care, but because finding the right words requires both eloquence and a level of openness many were never taught to have.
The story of many women
Azura Nasron’s film, Hai Anis13 offers an urgent look at the harsh realities of online grooming and digital exploitation. Through Anis’s journey, viewers are confronted with the sinister ease with which predators manipulate victims in the digital world. The film opens with a chilling exchange of flirtatious messages between an adult and a teenager, escalating into explicit content—a stark reminder of how easily grooming can occur.
Hai Anis is not just a story of Azura Nasron; it is a reflection of the lived experiences of countless women, young people, and survivors whose voices are often silenced. This is not an isolated incident; it is a growing epidemic spanning generations. Ask any woman or girl, and chances are, she has endured something similar or knows someone who has. These stories, buried beneath layers of shame and silence, reveal one painful truth: In the digital age, predators operate unchecked.
The urgency of this issue is highlighted by the alarming increase in sexual offences involving children.14 According to the Children Statistics Malaysia 2024 report15 released by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), the number of reported cases of sexual offences involving children to the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) rose by 26.5%, reaching 1,567 cases in 2023, compared to 1,239 cases in 2022. This troubling statistic underscores the pressing need for immediate action, as the digital world continues to expose young people to exploitation and harm.
Reimagination of Digital Rights
The recent passing of the Online Safety Bill 202416, with its promise to hold platforms accountable for protecting children and curbing harmful content, presents a glimmer of hope17 in addressing the legal loopholes within Malaysia’s current legal system. Yet, it remains a small thread in the tangled web of regulation18, struggling to keep pace with the fast-evolving digital world. Legislation, though abundant, remains trapped in the slow churn of bureaucracy, while the reality19 on the ground remains murky at best.
But this is not only a matter of policy—it is about a profound shift in how we view the digital world, and how we choose to navigate it. The task before us is not simply to update laws, but to engage every layer of society—NGOs, families, communities, the public—each must stand as guardians of a new narrative. A narrative that says: Enough is Enough. A narrative where respect is not optional, where the rights of women and girls are not negotiable, and where predators are held accountable, not just by law, but by their very own conscience. This could also begin with equipping parents with resources to discuss online safety, supporting teachers to integrate digital literacy into curricula, and creating safe spaces where young people can report concerns without fear of judgment or shame.
Hai Anis shows us how predators exploit digital spaces to groom young victims. However, it also points to solutions: teaching youth to recognise manipulation tactics and building support networks where they can safely report concerns. As the spirit of Paulo Freire’s work reminds us, “Education does not transform the world. Education changes people. People change the world.” Meaningful digital empowerment requires more than awareness—it demands action, collective responsibility, and a commitment to dismantling the culture of silence that allows harm to persist. It’s time for all of us to step up and ensure that digital spaces are safe for everyone, especially our children.
Izzah Dejavu is a writer and human rights advocate dedicated to advancing social justice through community engagement, public discourse, and activism. She is passionate about gender equality, expanding civic space, and defending human rights—to amplify marginalized voices and challenge oppressive systems.
Footnotes
3 https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62r2dk5ekgo
4 SafeOnline Global. (2023). Digital Harm in Malaysia: Understanding the risks and safeguarding youth online. https://safeonline.global/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/DH_Malaysia_ONLINE_FINAL.pdf
6 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/malaysia-indonesia-political-islam-pas-abdul-hadi-awang-conservative-hardline-pancasila-4219911 ↩
8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wpa8z8p0TZI
10 Nancy Fraser, Rethinking the Public Sphere: A Contribution to the Critique of Actually Existing Democracy, Social Text, No. 25/26 (1990): 56-80. https://doi.org/10.2307/466240
13 https://engagemedia.org/projects/tech-tales-youth/bangladesh-malaysia/hai-anis/
14 https://www.kevinwuassociates.com/post/child-grooming-a-rising-epidemic-in-malaysia
15 https://www.dosm.gov.my/uploads/release-content/file_20241101121857.pdf
16 https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/12/12/online-safety-bill-passed-despite-resistance
18 https://www.article19.org/resources/malaysia-online-safety-bill/
