KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian Twitter users have banded together in support of a teenager who is purportedly a victim of rape jokes and threats with the #MakeSchoolASaferPlace hashtag.
At press time, the hashtag is a trending topic with more than 102,000 tweets.
The 17-year-old received the support of fellow netizens after she posted a video on social media, calling for reforms to the education system and others to rally behind her with the hashtag.
In the minute-long video posted yesterday, the teenager said she had returned to the police station to provide details of the rape threats that she received after she highlighted rape jokes by her physical education teacher.
“Obviously it hasn’t been easy, though we have a lot of support.
“We got a lot of coverage in major news outlets,” she said in the video.
“The backlash hasn’t been easy to take on. Some even went so far as to threaten to rape me.”
The teenager said she was scared to highlight the issue at first.
“But that’s the exact reason why we need to continue this journey,” she said, adding that she appeared dishevelled due to fatigue.
The teenager also said the matter is something she cannot fight alone.
“We all need to fight together, to fight for what’s right. We need to reform the education system.”
She encouraged netizens to use the #MakeSchoolASaferPlace to stand up and speak out about their opinions.
“Stand in solidarity with me. We can do this together. Just because you’re young, that doesn’t mean you don’t have any right to speak up.”
Her tweet went viral within several hours of its posting, with some famous celebrities sharing her video and expressing their support for her bravery.
I support this because we must#MakeSchoolASaferPlace
— Bront Palarae (@Bront_Palarae) April 26, 2021
I am sharing this because it is becoming too rampant. I have a 14 year old school-going sister. It happens in her school too, so yes I am worried. You would think that such incidents are a one-off, but no.
— سبحان (@ArfSbhn) April 26, 2021
#MakeSchoolASaferPlace
— ann ? Animated Commissions open! (@kawliflower) April 25, 2021
Teachers, schools, boys, BE BETTER. pic.twitter.com/ruwEaIssW1
Prior to the rape threats, the teenager posted a video on social media in which she alleged her physical education teacher made inappropriate jokes during a conversation about sexual harassment.
The teacher reportedly told the boys in her class that if they were to commit rape, they should ensure they rape someone over the age of 18.
The teacher was also alleged to have said that the rape of boys does not get reported as the victims feel “good” about it.
Several media outlets today reported that Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani was quoted as saying that police have received the reports on the incidents and are investigating the matter. – The Vibes, April 26, 2021
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