Penang’s education authorities have moved to protect a 17-year-old student allegedly targeted in a sexual harassment and cyberbullying case, launching an internal investigation and pledging full police cooperation.
The Penang State Education Department (JPNPP) said psychosocial support was being provided to the Form Five student, who is preparing for her SPM examination. “The department’s immediate priority is to protect the student involved,” JPNPP said in a statement on 6 August. It added that stern action would be taken against any individual found guilty and stressed zero tolerance for sexual misconduct or bullying.
The case came to public attention after the student’s mother, a 46-year-old woman known only as Nur, appealed to authorities to speed up investigations. Nur told NST that her daughter had been targeted since April, when her face, name, class and phone number were allegedly circulated through obscene posters and fake social media accounts.
Separately, Malay Mail reported that the images had been manipulated using artificial intelligence before being distributed through posters and on social media. The family lodged three police reports and filed a complaint with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) over fake accounts using the student’s name and photographs.
Nur said her daughter was left emotionally traumatised, often crying and too embarrassed to attend school after her face was allegedly edited onto nude images. The student, who also works as a part-time model, has struggled to cope with the prolonged harassment.
