In a country as diverse as Malaysia, it’s amazing how education can bridge gaps between cultures and bring people together.
Sometimes, all it takes is one person stepping out of the norm to make a big impact.
Non-Muslim teacher in Sabah goes viral for teaching Jawi writing
That’s exactly what happened when a Christian teacher from Sabah went viral for teaching Jawi, showing how learning truly has no boundaries.
Loren Fren, a non-Muslim teacher, posted a video of herself teaching Jawi—something most would associate with the Muslim community—and it instantly blew up.
The video, which has racked up over 1.2 million views and 21,300 likes on Facebook, shows Loren beautifully writing the Malay proverb “Bagai aur dengan tebing” in neat Jawi script.
Her flawless handwriting and calm teaching style had viewers hooked, especially since it’s not every day you see someone from her background teaching Jawi.
In her video caption, Loren kept it light, saying, “I rarely teach Jawi, so I made this video for memories. Once we finish the Jawi topic this year, we’ll continue next year…”
While Jawi has been part of the Bahasa Melayu syllabus for Year 4 students since 2020, Loren views it as more than just a subject.
To her, it’s a key part of Malay history and culture that all Malaysians should learn to appreciate, regardless of their background.
Even former Education Minister Dr. Maszlee Malik took notice, praising Loren for her dedication to Malaysian culture.
Netizens quickly jumped in, applauding her for breaking the mold and teaching Jawi with such passion, proving that education can truly unite people across different backgrounds.
Watch the clip here:
