Hai Anis: a film on online grooming in MalaysiaCEFR B1
10 Sept 2025
Adapted from EngageMedia, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Muhammad Faiz Zulkeflee, Unsplash
Hai Anis, directed by Azura Nasron, has prompted public debate about online grooming in Malaysia. EngageMedia published the film and an interview, and Global Voices republished them. Nasron says the film responds to cases where teenagers were groomed and then failed by institutions that should protect them.
She describes repeated failures by schools, families and hospitals, and says survivors were often dismissed or treated as problems rather than supported. Nasron explains that grooming can start with small acts of kindness and attention, and predators may present care so the danger is not obvious to young people.
Nasron made careful choices to avoid a didactic tone and to speak to Gen Alpha. She collaborated with Monster’s Among Us (MAU) to screen the film in the My Body My Rules programme, reaching three communities in Klang Valley and involving 24 students aged 13–17. A public screening at Gerakbudaya on March 8, 2025 drew activists, students and educators, and attendees reacted with anger, empathy and calls for action. Nasron says lasting change will need trained facilitators, resources and stronger implementation of laws and education.
Difficult words
- grooming — A process of manipulation to exploit someone.
- manipulation — Controlling someone in a clever way.
- support — Help or assistance in difficult situations.
- educating — Teaching someone about a topic.
- experiences — Events that a person has gone through.
- boundaries — Limits that people set for themselves.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think young people struggle to recognize grooming?
- How can schools improve digital safety education?
- What role do parents play in protecting children online?
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