If you went to a Malaysian public school, you know the types. The ‘Cikgu Garang’ with his cane. The ‘Cikgu Baik’ who gave extra kuih during exams. And then, the one everyone whispered about – the ‘Cikgu Gatal‘. Sadly, creepy teachers in Malaysian schools are not just a childhood memory. They’re a real problem we need to talk about.
The teacher who always ‘accidentally’ brushed against girls. The one who called students alone to the ‘bilik guru’. The one whose ‘jokes’ made our skin crawl. Back then, we treated it like just another weird part of school – a dark inside joke everyone knew but no one challenged.
But as we grew older, things became clearer. He wasn’t just weird. He was actually very creepy.
Why creepy teachers in Malaysian schools still exist?
Looking back as a young adult, I realize that calling them ‘creepy’, was just a coping mechanism. We used humour to downplay something we knew was wrong but felt powerless to stop.
So why do they exist? Because the system shields them. A culture of “hormat” (respect for elders) is often used to silence us.
I still remember sitting in my classroom, hearing a male teacher joke about how, when we grew up, we’d be his future wives. One girl finally spoke up: “Cikgu tu dah tua, sedar diri sikit.”
He got angry, called her kurang ajar, and her parents eventually transferred her to another school. I still think about her sometimes and whisper a silent prayer.
Moments like that made me feel like schools fear scandal more than they protect children. We’re told danger comes from strangers. But that’s a myth. You’re more likely to know your abuser than to meet a boogeyman.
Are we normalizing “creepy” behaviour?
The silence doesn’t stop at school. It shows up in the workplace too – when bosses make jokes that cross the line or colleagues don’t respect boundaries. Out of politeness, or fear, many people just laugh it off or stay silent.
Even media plays a role. Wattpad stories and local dramas like Suami Aku Ustaz sometimes romanticize inappropriate teacher-student or boss-employee relationships. Lines get blurred, and society excuses it with a simple, “Jodoh itu takdir Tuhan.”
But here’s the truth: being polite should never mean tolerating behaviour that hurts others. Common doesn’t mean normal – and it should never be acceptable.
When abuse becomes a joke
Consider a real case where a teacher was investigated for dating a 17-year-old student. But the bigger scandal wasn’t just the teacher’s behaviour – it was how people online cheered for the boy. They treated it like he had won a prize instead of recognizing he was a victim of abuse.
One commenter even wrote “Aku dulu xde pulak cikgu cam ni kalau dapat yang camni hari cuti pun ak nak gi skolah”.
How can we fight sexual harassment when society responds with cheers and jokes? When an underage victim’s story becomes entertainment instead of a serious crime, it shows how deep the problem runs.
Young people are speaking up
Thankfully, change is happening. Brave students today, inspired by voices like Ain Husniza’s, are refusing to let ‘creepy’ teachers in Malaysian schools be treated as a joke. They are using the right words: harassment, misconduct, abuse of power.
And Ain even started an organization, Pocket of Pink, run by young people, for young people. Instead of boring lectures, they use art and fun activities to teach about consent and body safety. It’s creative, empowering and blowing up on TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram.
We deserve better
To my fellow young people: Our feelings are valid. Our discomfort is valid. That creepy teacher’s behaviour is not our fault. Speaking up isn’t disrespectful – it’s brave.
And to the system: Stop protecting predators. Build reporting channels that students can trust. And believe us when we report discomfort or harassment.
‘Creepy’ teachers in Malaysian schools aren’t a joke. They’re a betrayal of trust. It’s time to stop whispering and start demanding that our schools are safe for everyone.
