KUALA LUMPUR: Actor and director Datuk Farid Kamil Zahari's two months in jail last year "brought him closer to God".
The 38-year-old star of Lagenda Budak Setan, Remp-It and Tombiruo said in a news report yesterday that he successfully completed reciting the Al-Quran within a month.
He also participated in religious activities with fellow inmates, something he had never done as a free man.
“On the first and second day in jail, I imagined that I was in a Hollywood movie. But the reality was different.
“I felt very sad and sorry for myself, that I had 'flown' far away. Slowly but surely, I began to accept that it was God's way of showing me something.
“And that was the need to persevere and overcome life's many challenges, in order for better things to come. God works in mysterious ways, in everything bad, there has to be something good,” he said.
Farid described his imprisonment as "an experience which could not be expressed in words".
“Here I began to evaluate myself, and do plenty of soul-searching. And I was so touched that fellow prisoners accepted me.
“They all knew about me, and gave me their full moral support and encouragement to stand up again. Being appreciated by fellow prisoners greatly moved me,” said Farid.
In jail, he performed Tahajud prayers at midnight, besides reciting the Quran. “I don't think I would have been able to do these things when I was outside.”
Farid paid tribute to his actress wife Datin Diana Danielle and their children Muhammad, 7, and Aurora, 5.
“We've actually got closer despite my imprisonment. Diana and the children gave me their fullest support, they were my pillars and strength, and I'm totally indebted to them.
Farid admitted that he "lost some fans" as a result of his imprisonment.
“Such things are bound to happen, it's for the better since I don't want any negativity in my life. For those who have stood by me all these years, thank you very much, I greatly appreciate your sincere friendship, at least I now realise who my true friends are,” said Farid.
Farid revealed that his new film Remp-It 2 was being assessed by the Film Censorship Board (LPF) and would be released in August.
It stars Julia Hana, Niezam Zaidi, Farid and Muhammad.
Last December, Farid's nine-month jail sentence was postponed by the Court Of Appeal until his appeal against it was completed.
On Nov 27, 2019. the Shah Alam High Court retained a decision made by the Petaling Jaya Magistrate’s Court on May 15, 2019 that Farid had to serve nine months' jail in Kajang Prison.
After serving 35 days' jail, he was granted a stay of the sentence following an appeal.
Farid was convicted of a drug abuse charge for using the marijuana type Tetra Hydrocannibol (THC) in 2018.
He was accused of self-administration of drugs at 4.30pm in the Petaling Jaya police headquarters Narcotics Criminal Investigations Department on Jan 11, 2018.
Farid was charged under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.