27/05/2026

WEDNESDAY | MAY 27, 2026

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COMMENT by Dr Haezreena Begum Abdul Hamid

Boys as victims of sexual abuse

T HE recent case involving a female teacher charged with sexually abusing a 14-year old male student has sparked public debate across Malaysia. Yet, perhaps more disturbing than the allegations themselves has been the reaction from parts of society. Across social media, the case has been met not only with concern but also with jokes, minimisation and comments suggesting that the boy was somehow “lucky”. Such responses reveal a dangerous and deeply entrenched misunderstanding about sexual abuse, victimhood and gender. If the genders were reversed – if an adult male teacher had allegedly engaged in sexual acts with a 14-year-old female student – public outrage would be immediate and unequivocal. The incident would rightly be recognised as predatory, exploitative and abusive. However, when the victim is a boy and the alleged perpetrator is a woman, societal reactions often become clouded by stereotypes surrounding masculinity and sexuality. This double standard is not harmless; it undermines child protection efforts and trivialises the experiences of male victims. In criminology and victimology, sexual offending is understood not merely as an act of desire, but as one rooted in power, manipulation, coercion and unequal relationships. MALAYSIA is ageing much faster than many realise. According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, the country officially became an “ageing nation”in 2021 when the demographic of those aged 65 and older reached 7%. Based on current projections, we are expected to transition into an “aged nation” by 2048, with this group making up 14% of the population. Despite this undeniable demographic shift, Malaysian law currently does not impose a blanket upper age limit on private driving licences. The process remains governed by the standard operating procedures of the Road Transport Act 1987. Specifically, Section 30(3) of this Act mandates that all drivers, regardless of age, must ensure they are in good health to operate a vehicle safely. However, for everyday private vehicle owners, this relies entirely on self declaration rather than formal medical proof, a policy that is facing intense public scrutiny. This scrutiny has been amplified by several highly publicised and tragic accidents in early May. On May 5, an elderly man in his 70s lost control of his car in Section 17, Petaling Jaya. The vehicle sped into the opposite lane and brutally rammed a motorcyclist, where a food delivery rider in his 20s tragically died at the scene. The driver was subsequently released on police bail due to his underlying health reasons. Days later, social media platforms were flooded with footage of another alarming incident where an elderly driver lost control and crashed directly

become victims often suffer for years in silence, carrying shame, confusion and unresolved trauma into adulthood. Many struggle to disclose abuse because they fear ridicule, disbelief or humiliation. Some do not recognise their experiences as abusive until years later. Others remain silent entirely because society has taught them that males are supposed to welcome sexual experiences regardless of context, age or coercion. Research has consistently shown that sexual abuse against boys remains significantly underreported. One reason is precisely this societal reluctance to acknowledge that boys can be harmed in ways that do not conform to conventional narratives of victimhood. Equally concerning is the persistent assumption that women are incapable of committing serious sexual offences. While most sexual offending is perpetrated by men, female sexual offending is a recognised phenomenon within criminological literature. However, it remains under-discussed, poorly understood and frequently minimised in public discourse because it challenges deeply held gender assumptions. Protecting children requires consistency. Abuse cannot be taken seriously only when it conforms to familiar stereotypes. A child’s vulnerability does not change according to gender, nor does the

This is particularly significant in institutional settings such as schools, where teachers occupy positions of authority, trust and influence over children. A teacher-student relationship is inherently unequal. The issue is not whether a child appeared willing, compliant or emotionally attached. Children cannot meaningfully consent to sexual relationships with adults who exercise authority over them. The imbalance of power itself is central to understanding the abuse. Yet, public discourse often ignores this reality when boys are involved. In many societies, including ours, there has traditionally been a stronger emphasis on protecting daughters from the risk of sexual abuse, exploitation and predatory harm while the vulnerability of boys is often overlooked or insufficiently acknowledged. Families may worry about girls’ safety in explicit ways but boys are frequently socialised to appear strong, resilient and sexually assertive, creating the dangerous assumption that they are somehow less vulnerable to abuse. This cultural blind spot has contributed to a troubling reality in which boys who experience sexual victimisation are often denied recognition, empathy and support. Many societies continue to socialise boys into equating masculinity with sexual readiness, emotional toughness and into a bustling kopitiam stall, severely injuring a worker. These incidents have sparked public outrage and reignited demands for stricter regulations. Instead of a strict, arbitrary age cut-off, the most prominent solution being debated is the introduction of mandatory health assessments for drivers aged 65 and above. Various authorities, including the Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department, have continuously urged the government to implement specialised screening rules for seniors before they can renew their licences. Enforcing mandatory medical screenings ensures that natural, age related physical declines – deteriorating eyesight, slower reflexes, hearing loss or cognitive conditions – do not put the driver or the public at risk. Establishing a firm, legally required health check removes ambiguity and saves families from the painful, subjective burden of telling an ageing parent they are no longer fit to get behind the wheel. It shifts the responsibility from a personal family conflict to a standardised, unbiased medical evaluation. Conversely, forcing elderly drivers to undergo mandatory health screenings or strict age caps risks institutionalising ageism and ignoring the vast spectrum of healthy ageing. A major misconception is that chronological age universally dictates competence on the road. Many

abuse become less harmful because the alleged offender is female. This case should, therefore, prompt a broader national conversation about how Malaysia understands sexual victimisation, institutional power and child protection. Public responses rooted in humour or disbelief do not merely reflect poor taste; they reinforce a culture in which male victims are denied empathy and offenders may escape scrutiny because they do not fit society’s image of a predator. The accused in this case is entitled to due process and guilt must be determined by the courts. However, the public reaction already exposes a troubling reality: society remains far more comfortable recognising abused girls than abused boys. A child subjected to sexual exploitation is a victim regardless of gender. That principle should not be negotiable. Until society abandons the idea that boys are somehow less vulnerable to sexual abuse, male victims will continue to suffer in silence while harmful myths about masculinity and victimhood remain unchallenged. Dr Haezreena Begum Abdul Hamid is a criminologist and senior

dominance. As a result, adolescent boys are frequently denied the social status of “victim”. Sexual attention from older women is sometimes framed as a fantasy, an achievement or a rite of passage rather than what it may actually represent: exploitation by an adult in a position of power. This cultural conditioning carries serious consequences. Boys who “Many societies continue to socialise boys into equating masculinity with sexual readiness, emotional toughness and dominance. As a result, adolescent boys are frequently denied the social status of ‘victim’.

lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Universiti Malaya. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

The blindspot of driving into ‘twilight’

COMMENT by Dr Muhammad Ammirrul Atiqi Mohd Zainuri

While strict age limits or sweeping mandatory assessments can act as a necessary safeguard for public safety, they also risk unfairly marginalising a massive portion of our population who are still capable and rely on their mobility to survive. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN

mobility to survive. Instead of implementing absolute bans based purely on a number, the most realistic and compassionate path forward likely involves highly targeted, government-subsidised and easily accessible health evaluations. This will support and assist seniors rather than blindly penalise them. This approach prioritises the safety of Malaysian roads without sacrificing the dignity, mobility and hard-earned independence of our elders. Dr Muhammad Ammirrul Atiqi Mohd Zainuri is from the the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment at Univerisiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

especially those in areas lacking robust public transit, the ability to drive equates to the ability to earn a living, buy groceries or access vital healthcare. Cutting off these avenues prematurely could deepen financial hardship and social isolation for an increasingly vulnerable demographic. Ultimately, navigating the driving capabilities of senior citizens is a complex balancing act for Malaysia, especially in the wake of recent tragedies. While strict age limits or sweeping mandatory assessments can act as a necessary safeguard for public safety, they also risk unfairly marginalising a massive portion of our population who are still capable and rely on their

advocacy groups point out that reckless behaviour and speeding among younger demographics still account for a massive portion of road fatalities. Automatically placing administrative hurdles in front of a sharp, physically active 75-year-old ignores their individual capability. The most severe drawback, however, is the real economic and social strain this could cause. Stripping away an elderly person’s driving licence or making it exceptionally difficult to renew through costly or stressful medical hurdles could restrict their independence. For many older Malaysians,