Teacher allegedly ‘grooms’ 15-year-old student, netizens demand action

ALOR SETAR – Concerns for student safety have been raised after a former mathematics teacher, Mohd Fadli Salleh, revealed screenshots of sexually explicit conversations between a male teacher and a 15-year-old female student.

In a social media post on Tuesday night, Fadli alleged that the student had become a victim of "grooming" by the educator at a school here, an institution meant to be her protector.

According to the screenshots, the exchanges began with a concerned tone before progressing to sexualised banter, including requests for private meetings and for the student to call the teacher "abang."

"Male teacher ‘grooms’ 15-year-old female student. It is chilling to read their lewd conversation.

"Before anyone attacks the girl, let me be clear: Yes, the student is also wrong for engaging. But she is only 15. Her judgement isn’t fully formed yet," Fadli wrote.

Fadli, a social media influencer, stated that the teacher’s actions displayed clear elements of grooming, a form of psychological manipulation often used by sexual predators to exploit underage victims.

"She was deceived and manipulated by an adult. This is what is called ‘grooming’. It starts off nice, asking how she is, showing concern. Once the child starts responding, the predator slowly weaves his web," he said.

He highlighted that the secondary school victim eventually recognised the teacher’s inappropriate intentions and lodged a police report, as well as a complaint via the Public Complaint Management System (SISPAA).

"I heard the teacher was transferred to another school. I hope this teacher truly repents and does not make students at another school his next victims," Fadli added.

However, many netizens in the comment section questioned the transfer, criticising it as an insufficiently firm response that risked allowing similar incidents to recur at the new school.

Commenters urged the Education Ministry to tighten ethical guidelines for teachers, strengthen internal reporting systems and ensure perpetrators face appropriate disciplinary action, including suspension pending investigation.

In a separate but related allegation, Fadli also claimed another incident occurred in the district where a male teacher was accused of frequently using vulgar language in class.

A student who reported the matter to the school principal allegedly did not receive adequate attention, forcing a complaint to another teacher.

That teacher subsequently escalated the report to the District Education Office, an action which reportedly backfired, resulting in their own transfer for "overstepping the principal’s authority," despite their intention to protect the student.

"The lewd teacher was transferred, but the teacher who protected the pupil is the one who suffered hardship. The distance to the new school makes his daily affairs difficult," Fadli said.