Real Stories, Real Issues: 'Projek: High Council' and Its Message

The Faces of Projek High Council - Mierul Aiman, Amir Ahnaf, Nadhir Nasar, Daiyan Trisha, Sazzy Falak Created by Anwari Ashraf

With its March 11, 2024, Netflix debut, "Projek: High Council" has won over hearts and minds of viewers as a top Malay drama in recent memory. Many of us have been let down by the simple plots and basic dialogue in traditional Malay dramas, but "Projek: High Council" is a story with a lot of feelings, a great cast, and great cinematography that makes it stand out.

As a Malaysian, I'm proud to see such high-quality work coming out of my country. The elaborate script, which is filled with deep theories and literary references, demonstrates the writers' passion. The writers carefully put together a story that is full of theories.One of the theories they used was from "Lord of the Flies" and the theory of moral judgment to look at how people act and behave. The degree to which this series has been carefully developed is rare in Malaysian dramas, and is quite outstanding.

"Projek: High Council" is essentially a high school drama that explores issues like bullying, respect, loss, social hierarchy, and the fight for survival. Project: High Council is based on real events that happened in Malaysia and shows how hard life is for school students really are. The 10-episode series looks at the widespread problem of bullying in Malaysian schools. It does this by telling a high school story that is both about personal struggles and the struggle against abuse. The way these issues are shown in the series is meant to start a conversation and make people more aware of how common and harmful bullying is in Malaysian society, which is why it's important to talk about it.The series is a strong reminder that we need to keep working to make schools safer and more welcoming for all. Project: High Council adds to the ongoing conversation about how to stop bullying and protect students who are weak by diving into the important issues that are portrayed.

Raw Power and Conflict: A look into the Intensity of 'Projek: High Council'

In a gutting scene, the character Ikhsan was bullied by his seniors. Even after expressing to his teachers about the bullying, he continued to deal with social alienation and insults that are meant to humiliate him. "Jibam" becomes a stigmatizing label in the drama that further labels Ikhsan as a snitch and intensifies the bullying he faces. In the end, Ikhsan felt driven to transfer schools, after continuous bullying which highlights the long-lasting effects of verbal and physical abuse.

Sexual assault is a disturbing reality in certain boarding schools, and the series tragically touches on this issue. An especially tragic event involves a senior who sexually abuses a 14-year-old student. Studies show that one out of ten students in Malaysia suffer from sexual abuse, and this plot brings attention to the serious and sometimes overlooked problem of sexual assault among young students.The importance of this issue lies in the fact that our society has a responsibility to ensure that survivors of sexual assault do not feel embarrassed when discussing their experiences. They are the victims, so they should get help and respect instead of being judged or shamed. The show brings up this touchy subject to start conversations that can lead to better prevention, and help for those who are faced with these issues. Creating a safe space where people can talk about their experiences is important for their healing and to stop sexual assault from happening again. As a society, we need to create an environment of understanding and support so that people feel free to talk about their problems and get the help they require.

Another noteworthy theme covered in Projek: High Council is toxic masculinity. The show shows how social expectations of men as strong, dominant, and emotionally cold make for powerful men. One of the characters, Naim, was shown dealing with the trauma of his parents' separation. His mother left his father, who was seen as weak because he was so gentle. In an attempt to resemble his stepfather, who is more manly than his father, Naim makes every effort to get rid of the traits and mannerisms of his biological father. The fact that Naim struggled with his feelings and then gave in to toxic masculinity which shows how harmful traditional gender roles and the push to fit harmful stereotypes can be.

Projek: High Council is a reflection on the need to remove harmful practices in Malaysian society and it goes beyond just a high school drama. The story takes place in a school, which is a good way to show how schools can either support these harmful behaviors or work to stop them. The drama urges people to break the circle of abuse in order to make society more fair and caring.

All things considered, Projek: High Council is an engaging story that tackles important worthy topics. Its success is not only a big deal for Malaysian TV, but it also raises important issues like bullying, toxic masculinity, and the need for culture change. Let's think about these problems as viewers and figure out what we can do to help make schools safer and more welcoming for everyone.