A Malaysian man has come forward on social media to express his discomfort over repeated and unsolicited physical contact by a female colleague, claiming the experience left him feeling “violated.”
In the post, the man man Yusof shared that a female coworker frequently brushed against him despite there being plenty of space to walk around in the office.
She would always find ways to touch me using different parts of her body. At first, I thought it was accidental.
“But one day, I was just standing in one spot, and she purposely walked over and bumped into me,” he wrote.
‘Please respect my boundaries’
Yusof added that the contact was never forceful, but it made him extremely uncomfortable due to how frequent and deliberate it seemed.
Even after trying to avoid her by moving aside whenever she approached, the physical contact continued.
“Every time it happened, I would show an awkward or annoyed expression, hoping she’d get the hint.
“Thankfully, she eventually stopped. Maybe she realised it wasn’t appropriate.”
Yusof noted that while he has since left the company, but still considers the behavior “extremely disrespectful,” saying it gave him a strong sense of being violated.
‘Report to HR!’
Yusof’s post quickly went viral, sparking a broader conversation online about appropriate physical boundaries in the workplace—regardless of gender.
Many netizens agreed that women should be just as mindful as men when it comes to respecting personal space and maintaining professional boundaries, especially with colleagues who are not intimate partners.
‘Report harassment to HR. Can’t just go around being inappropriate like that.’
‘It’s not about looks or opportunity. This is about personal boundaries, which every Muslim must uphold. Men and women who respect these limits don’t care about appearance or anything else — they will still keep their distance. So learn to respect those who try to protect their dignity.’
‘Bro, next time learn to speak up. Don’t just make a face. Just say, ‘Are you trying to hint that you want to flirt?’ Learn to speak up, bro.’
