Grooming, unfortunately, can come across as affectionate, but it can gradually lead to exposing the child to harmful and criminal behaviour such as sexually explicit messages. = Pexels
The 24-year-old male school bus driver who was apprehended by the authorities after his TikTok videos under the handle AbangBas went viral, was charged at the Muar Sessions Court in Johor, on Wednesday.
He was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 (for committing physical sexual abuse for allegedly kissing the cheek of a four-year-old girl, who is also his niece).
He was also charged under Section 15(a)(iii) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 for repeatedly observing a nine-year-old girl for sexual purposes (committing non-physical sexual abuse).
The Abang Bas videos were highlighted by an X user who flagged the feed as inappropriate. At that time, his TikTok account had amassed about 600,000 followers (though the content has since been deleted) with more than two million views.
It also drew the attention of Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri who immediately instructed child welfare officers and the police to investigate the matter.
In the videos, the bus driver records his daily school runs with young primary school children (mostly girls) in his bus.
He is also seen touching the lips of a sleeping student and removing the tudung of another, and calling yet another pupil his “crush”.
While some netizens deemed the videos “harmless”, even “cute”, women’s groups and child’s rights activists point out how the content in the videos are inappropriate, even putting those young children at tremendous risk.
For child advocates and activists, his actions are blatantly inappropriate as he appears to violate the children’s body boundaries and even sexualise them.
This behaviour is also synonymous with child grooming – when someone (usually an adult) builds a relationship, trust and emotional connection with a child or young person so they can manipulate, exploit and abuse them.
Children and young people who are groomed can be sexually abused, exploited, and even trafficked.
Why is the content problematic?
“They involve a school bus driver recording videos of primary schoolgirls and posting them online with inappropriate captions. This violates children’s privacy and exposes them to potential harm and exploitation,” says Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) acting executive director Nazreen Nizam.
Labelling such behaviour as “harmless fun” overlooks the serious implications on children, she adds.
“It trivialises the act of recording and sharing images or videos of children without consent, which can lead to grooming and other forms of sexual exploitation. It also normalises disrespect for the boundaries and rights of children,” says Nazreen.
All Women’s Action Society capacity building director Jayamalar Samuel adds that the actions of the driver are also exploitative.
“This behaviour is not harmless, it shows him taking advantage of children and exploiting them (for content). Most times, children are not aware that (what is taking place) is an exploitation of their body, especially if they have not learnt to set good boundaries by their parents and teachers,” says Jayamalar.
Parents must teach their children about body boundaries, good touch and bad touch and provide a safe space for the young ones to be able to tell them if they experience anything untoward. - 123rf
What is child grooming?
Nazreen says grooming is a long, manipulative process used by offenders to prepare children for sexual abuse.
“Initially, the offender targets a potential victim, often choosing someone based on their vulnerability or ease of access. The next step involves gaining the victim’s trust; the offender may shower the child with gifts, attention and affection, or engage in activities the child enjoys, effectively building trust. They often take on a nurturing role to fill the child’s emotional needs, making the child dependent on them,” she says.
Grooming, unfortunately, can come across as affectionate, but it can gradually lead to exposing the child to harmful and criminal behaviour such as sexually explicit messages. Over time, the groomer may resort to controlling or threatening the child to comply with image requests, instilling a fear that silences them from reporting abuse.
Adds Jayamalar: “Child groomers sometimes form relationships with the child’s family members. Such act leads to them having access to the child.”
Nazreen says: “Once abuse begins, the offender uses tactics like secrecy, blame or threats to maintain control and keep the child silent.
“It manipulates the child into believing the relationship is normal or acceptable, which can lead to abuse that the child may not immediately recognise as wrong. This manipulation often prevents the child from reporting the abuse or seeking help,” says Nazreen.
How rampant is grooming?
Children often don’t tell anyone (or are told not to tell anyone) when grooming happens so it is hard to determine the extent of the problem other than when it is exposed.
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How can children be protected?
Nazreen says parents play a crucial role in safeguarding their children against crimes like unauthorised recording; it is important they understand the laws that protect children and safeguard their right to privacy.
“Parents should familiarise themselves with the laws about the consent required for recording images and videos of minors, which vary depending on contexts such as in schools, public spaces or online. Recording a child without explicit consent of the guardians or in a potentially exploitative manner is typically illegal,” says Nazreen.
“Parents should also be mindful of how to respond if they suspect their child has been recorded without consent. This includes contacting the police for suspected criminal activity, reaching out to child protection services at the Social Welfare Department (JKM) if a child’s safety is at risk, informing school officials if the incident happens at school or using online platforms’ reporting features to flag and remove inappropriate content,” she adds.
How do we empower children?
Jayamalar urges parents to educate their children on what healthy boundaries are, as well as “good touch” and “bad touch”.
They must create a safe space for children to come forward and tell them if they feel uncomfortable, or confused or if their boundaries have been violated.
“It can be difficult to spot perpetrators because not all perpetrators are strangers; they can also be people known to them. Parents should also pay attention to what their child is trying to say, especially young children who have a limited vocabulary (to articulate what they are experiencing),” she says.
Teaching children about body boundaries includes helping them understand which body parts are private, and who can touch them and under what circumstances. Doing this will give them power over their own bodies.
Adults too, must learn the importance of honouring children’s boundaries.
“Educating children about personal safety and privacy should be integral to their upbringing. Parents can access community and online resources by organisations dedicated to children’s rights and online safety,” says Nazreen.
What are behaviours in children to look out for?
Parents should be cautious of any adult who tries to bypass parental consent to gain direct access to the child, says Nazreen. Other signs that parents can look out in their child are:
•Being secretive, including about what they are doing online or whom they are going to meet
•Has older boyfriends or girlfriends
•They can’t or won’t explain how they got new things
•Regularly misses school, tuition classes or appointments with friends
•Is withdrawn, anxious or depressed
•Has access to drugs and/or alcohol
Is grooming illegal?
Yes, it is, says Nazreen.
“The Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 includes provisions that make it a crime to use electronic means to communicate with a child for the purpose of committing a sexual offense. It is designed to protect children from being preyed upon and exploited, particularly in the digital environment where grooming often begins discreetly and can escalate rapidly.
“The act is part of Malaysia’s broader commitment to safeguard children from sexual abuse and exploitation, reinforcing legal protection against such behaviours,” she says.
What are other laws that protect children from exploitation, and safeguard their well-being and rights?
According to Nazreen, Malaysia has several laws that are applicable in cases involving exploitation of children.
•Child Act 2001 (Act 611): This act provides for care, protection and rehabilitation of children. It includes specific provisions against child abuse and exploitation and can be used to address cases where children are harmed or exploited.
•Penal Code (Section 509): Pertains to the gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of any person, including using words or sounds or exhibiting any object with the intent to intrude upon the privacy of a woman.
•Section 292: Deals with the creation and distribution of obscene materials. This could apply to inappropriate recordings or photographs of children.
•Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Section 233): Prohibits the improper use of network facilities or network services, which includes the making, creation, solicitation, and initiation of any obscene, indecent, false, menacing, or offensive content with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass another person.
•Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017: Provides comprehensive protection for children from all forms of sexual offenses, including grooming, physical sexual assault, and possession of child pornography. This act could apply directly to the creation or distribution of any inappropriate images or videos involving children.
•Privacy Laws: There are various provisions under the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 that protect personal data, which could be construed to include images or videos containing personal information, especially of minors.
