Projek: High Council

Fakhri dan Naim ialah dua beradik yang telah terpisah sejak mereka masih kanak-kanak dan bertemu semula di Kolej Ungku Deramat (KUDRAT) pada tahun 2006, sebuah sekolah asrama berprestij tinggi. Mereka berdua menyertai sebuah pertandingan tradisi yang dipanggil "Pilihanraya" yang diadakan secara sulit dan diseliakan oleh "High Council". Pemenang gelanggang itu akan dianggap sebagai pelajar paling berkuasa di KUDRAT.

Demi mengubah niatnya pada usia 15 tahun, Fakhri, seorang pelajar yang bijak, sering terlibat dalam pergaduhan, telah diterima untuk memasuki KUDRAT. Namun, apabila Fakhri merungkai rahsia di sebalik tradisi sekolah itu, secara tidak langsung telah menjadikan dia sasaran utama pelajar-pelajar yang ingin mengukuhkan hierarki "High Council". Bertekad untuk menghentikan segala ketidakadilan dan penyalahgunaan kuasa yang berlaku di kalangan pelajar, Fakhri menyertai gelanggang "plihanraya", bagi menentukan ‘KAPLA’ di sekolah tersebut walaupun pilihannya itu bakal berhadapan dengan sesuatu yang terlalu sukar buatnya.

Astro Originals—a drama series I skipped two years ago. I don’t know why I didn’t choose to watch it back then, maybe because it was about a serious and heavy topic. Of course, I finally decided to watch it because it has two of my favourite Malaysian actors, Nadhir & Mierul!

Oh, and Naim Daniel! I usually just listened to his songs, knowing he’s such a good singer and producer, but I had never seen him act before. And trust me, you’ll love his acting as much as I did. He’s so funny and natural in the way he delivers his lines. Even when the dialogues were long, fast, and packed with words, he never stumbled—it just flowed so smoothly, like butter.

I think this drama brought out a very clear message, touching on a serious issue that could happen in schools everywhere—not just in Malaysia but around the world. All those big and small concerns and problems were portrayed very clearly in this drama.

What I found the most comforting was the bond between Naim & Fakhri. These two brothers were so clear-minded and shared the same goal. Both boys are haunted by the trauma of a broken family.They fought so hard just to be KAPLA, because they knew they had to stop school bullying and put an end to the harmful traditions of KUDRAT, especially the High Council. So when the “Death of the High Council” finally happened, you could see their eyes filled with tears—a victory they had longed for. From then on, the students of KUDRAT no longer had to live in fear.The concept of toxic masculinity – a belief that men must be strong, dominant, and unemotional – was a notable theme in the storyline. Some scenes in the show spotlighted how the boys condoned an unhealthy culture of fighting, power, and dominance just because they believed participating meant they were strong men.The series showcased the importance of mental health and the need to address it from a young age.

This is an issue that society should pay much greater attention to, because only through awareness and understanding can we begin to find meaningful solutions and prevent the same harm from happening again.

I was especially moved by Episode 6, when Naim sacrificed so much to save and protect Danial, a Form 2 student. I cried my eyes out at that part—it was so touching, showing just how hard they tried to put an end to all the bullying.

Episode 8, why must it take someone’s sacrifice for them to truly realize the seriousness of the situation? The part where Ayam fell off just from saving Fakhri, I just can't! 😭😭😭

Kahar’s storyline in Projek: High Council is one of the most striking portrayals of how power and influence can corrupt even those who start with the best intentions. At first, he is introduced as a figure who seems strong, confident, and deeply rooted in the traditions of KUDRAT. To many, he looks like a leader, someone who has earned his place in the school hierarchy.

But as the story unfolds, we see that Kahar is also trapped—trapped by the very system that raised him up. His choices, often harsh and cruel, are not just a reflection of who he is as a person, but of the toxic cycle of bullying, violence, and toxic pride that the High Council enforces. Kahar becomes both a victim and a perpetrator, which makes his character layered and tragic rather than one-dimensional.

What makes Kahar’s arc impactful is the way it shows the cost of blind loyalty and the destructive nature of traditions that are never questioned. His downfall is painful to watch, but necessary for the message of the drama: no matter how strong you think you are, if you uphold injustice, you will eventually be broken by it.

Kahar’s story leaves us with an important reflection: in systems built on fear and violence, even those at the top are not truly free.

I really think Kahar deserves a second chance. Even though I hated him from the very beginning, by the time it reached the episode with the fights between batches—when Ayam was severely injured—you could clearly see that Kahar was scared and full of regret for everything that had happened. That was the moment when I started to stop hating him and instead began to feel pity for him. It was heartbreaking to watch him suffer under such enormous pressure.

In the episode where Naim was unconscious after being brutally beaten by Fakhri, it was Kahar who immediately stepped in, stopped Fakhri, and saved Naim. That moment showed me that he wasn’t truly bad—he was just pressured by his father and brothers.

What touched me even more was when he decided to reveal the truth about the darkness inside KUDRAT. He admitted that because he wasn’t a smart student, nobody ever paid attention to him. But as Kapla, everyone respected him, feared him, and finally noticed him. I could totally understand how much he craved attention from others. Sadly, he thought bullying was the most effective way to achieve it—but that mindset was so wrong.

And the part where he stood together with the whole student body, led by Naim and Fakhri, and swore the oath—when he faced his father and read it aloud with tears in his eyes—that moment truly moved me.

Episode 9, this scene where Naim confronted his dad, or rather poured out all the pain he had been carrying inside, questioned him like he was a stranger, and begged for the love and understanding he never truly received, completely broke me. Nadhir Nasar, you did a really great job in this, like seriously, all those emotions. 😭😭😭

 Mierul Aiman!!

That’s the reason why I really love seeing the two of them in dramas and movies!!! 😭😭😭

And this part!!! I tried to hold back my tears a few times but I just failed!!

It was just one line, "Anak jantan tak nangis, pa.",

just enough to put me in tears. 😭😭😭

Sometimes, all you need is one word and just one simple hug to let everything go. Look at Naim! All he needs is just a simple love like this. 😭😭😭

High Council ends in their batches, this really made me in tears.

"I didn't read 'Lord of the Flies' imagining my enemies commiting the evils the characters have done. I imagined myself, I am capable of evil too. Once I've recognized my own potential of being evil. Being aware of it, of myself, was the best way to stop myself."

"I've always found 'Lord of the Flies' and it's writer, William Golding's idea of humanity to be offensive. His notion that evil is inherent in all men had never really sit well with me. Understanding William Golding, the true face of men will reveal itself when met with desperation, 'Evil' or rather the animalistic instincts hard-wired into our brains from the times of our primal ancestors are still inherent among us until this day. Desperation from the lack of resources back then has made humans turn to their barbaric side. But humans are now far too evolved. We have sovereign bodies that are to govern our destructive instincts. We are capable of achieving social contracts. Promising that we will not do harm on one another. Around the world, war-torn region are decreasing in size. And despite the multiple times experts predicted a third world war, it has yet to arrive. I consider this is a testament to our goodness always prevail, a testament that we are not inherently evil.

Needless to say, I've been called a delusional optimist many times in my life. However, over the past few months, I'm beginning to see the cracks in my own naivety. I'm beginning to see that despite the systems that we create to achieve order, we forget that we ourselves are agent of chaos and that even our most desperate attempts for order will inevitably breed more chaos. I still am a delusional optimist. Looking to you boys everyday, hoping that you would prove me and all my naivety to the right."

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