KUALA LUMPUR: Award-winning actor Amir Ahnaf Mohd Khairudin, 24, has admitted that he was once badly bullied in school and suffered trauma as a result.
The star of Projek: High Council said in a Harian Metro report yesterday that some of his fellow hostel mates bullied him during their secondary school days.
"I was ragged in the hostel. This happened from Form One to Form Two. I am still a little traumatised by it, but the silver lining from the whole episode is, I have become strongly opposed to bullying and outspoken against it," said Amir.
Amir said that he gradually learned to stand up for himself and open up about his bad experiences.
"I am glad that I befriended many young men who suffered similar experiences and they empathised with me and supported my strong stand against bullying."
Amir also said that his character in Projek: High Council was "partly inspired" by his bad experience in the hostel.
"This, too, was a silver lining. I successfully mastered my character Kahar by referencing my hostel days," he said.
Amir added that Malaysians who were bullied in school had to "face their demons" and open up about bullying, lest their children and grandchildren inherit their trauma.
"I am so glad to have starred in Projek: High Council which is an eye-opening series about bullying in hostels. A lot of useful lessons can be learned from the story of Kahar and his friends."
Amir said that the only way to curb bullying in schools and colleges was to talk about it and create public awareness of it.
"Nobody deserves to be hurt or harmed by others. We also must be strong and assertive, and not be cowed by people who like to intimidate and humiliate us."