Human Rights Watch senior researcher Andreas Harsono applauded the move, revealing that public schools had forced millions of girls and women teachers to wear hijab, prompting "bullying, intimidation, social pressures—and in some cases, expulsion and forced resignation" for those who refused. The case in Padang, West Sumatra, where a Christian student was pressured to wear hijab despite her religious identity, was described by the religious affairs minister as merely the "tip of the iceberg".
Many young Malay women maintain two accounts: one for family (hijab, Quran recitation, family events) and a finsta (fake Instagram) for close friends where they might post without hijab or discuss "taboo" topics like dating, sex, or family dysfunction. This cognitive dissonance—being two people at once—is a significant source of anxiety and depression.
