A CCTV recording showing a man approaching a female shop worker and demanding money at a grocery store in Tebengau, Kedah, has sparked debate online, particularly over the reaction of a customer who was present with a young child.
The footage showed the man suddenly walking up to the counter, where the woman was working, before asking her for money.
A customer carrying a child could also be seen nearby, but did not appear to intervene while the incident was unfolding.
The recording was shared by Threads user @nyzamferiy and drew mixed reactions from netizens, with some questioning why the customer did not step in to help the shop worker.
One commenter, @atiqah_lah, suggested the customer might not have noticed what was happening because a tall cupboard obstructed the view. They also speculated that the customer may have initially mistaken the situation for an argument between a mother and child.
Another user, @nraina_977, similarly felt the customer might not have seen the incident clearly because the view was blocked by bottled water, or may have deliberately avoided getting involved while carrying a child.
Others defended the customer’s reaction, pointing out that they had only just entered the shop and might not have known what was happening.
One commenter said the customer could have done little unless the shop worker had shouted for help or alerted others that a theft was taking place.
Another argued that the customer might have been reluctant to intervene because they were responsible for a young child, adding that getting involved could have put both of them at risk.
The differing reactions highlighted the dilemma faced by bystanders witnessing potentially dangerous incidents, particularly when they have children or vulnerable individuals with them.
