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SHAH ALAM - A parent's viral complaint against a home tuition teacher has sparked discussion over accountability in Malaysia's largely unregulated private tutoring industry after she alleged repeated lesson cancellations, requests for personal loans and the refusal to refund prepaid tuition fees.
The allegations surfaced in a Threads post by user afza_azza, who claimed she endured months of what she described as unprofessional conduct before deciding to terminate the arrangement.
According to the parent, she initially tried to accommodate the tutor's circumstances, including allowing her to bring her baby to lessons despite repeated disruptions.
She alleged, however, that the situation gradually deteriorated, with the tutor frequently arriving late, cancelling lessons at short notice, requesting tuition fees a month in advance and repeatedly asking to borrow money.
"Oh Allah, grant me patience. Why are some people like this!? You were my child's home tuition teacher. During lessons, you would bring your baby, teach while the baby was crying loudly and feed the baby milk during the session. I was still willing to be understanding.
"Then, you frequently messaged me asking to borrow money and even requested the tuition fees a month in advance. Even then, I gave you another chance.
"But you kept cancelling classes whenever you liked. I really cannot tolerate people who do not keep to their commitments or respect other people's time. I could still overlook it two or three times, but it gradually became too much.
"Now that I want to stop hiring you, you are telling me that my money is non-refundable!?" she wrote.
The parent also shared screenshots of WhatsApp conversations with the tutor, identified in the exchanges as "Cikgu Emy", which appeared to show requests for advance tuition payments.
The screenshots allegedly showed the tutor requesting payment for July while it was still June, followed by another request for August's fees before July had ended.
The parent further alleged that the tutor frequently cited personal financial difficulties when asking to borrow money.
According to the post, she eventually gave the tutor RM200 as a gift instead of continuing to lend her money because she no longer wanted to receive repeated requests for financial assistance.
However, after informing the tutor that she wished to discontinue the service, she claimed she was told the prepaid tuition fees would not be refunded.
The post has since gained widespread attention on Threads, with many users criticising the tutor's alleged conduct while questioning the lack of clear standards governing private home tuition arrangements.
Threads user @_ssseepp, who identified herself as a tutor, said the alleged behaviour was unacceptable.
"You can stop hiring her. I am a tutor also, but that tutor's behaviour is unreasonable."
Another user, @nrhafiza_fiez, said she had never requested advance payment despite working as a tutor herself.
"Wow, you are so kind. I myself am a tutor but I never asked for advance payment. This tutor even borrowed your money?"
The incident has also prompted broader discussion about the importance of setting clear expectations between parents and private tutors, including lesson schedules, cancellation policies, payment terms and refund arrangements before classes begin.
As of publication, the tutor had not publicly responded to the allegations.