Former bully admits carrying deep regret over his actions

KEPALA BATAS – "I wasn’t seen as a respected senior, but as someone others avoided."

That was the reflection of Rahimi, a Form Five student at a local vocational school, as he opened up about his past as a hostel bully.

According to the 17-year-old, the culture of ragging was something many students living in hostels came to accept as part of the experience.

He recalled how, on his very first day after enrolling at the school early last year, he became a victim of bullying himself at the hands of older students.

“It was almost expected for new students to wash and iron the seniors’ clothes. Their stern attitude left most of us feeling intimidated.

“Maybe I was lucky, I knew a few seniors from my village and managed to blend in quickly, which meant I avoided the worst of it. But instead of staying clear, I ended up being drawn into their group, the one others were afraid of,” he told Sinar.

By the time he reached Form Five, Rahimi admitted his own bullying behaviour had escalated. He began targeting weaker students, using them to vent his anger and asserting authority over them.

“People kept their distance because they were scared of me, but I mistook it for a sign of respect. Inside, I felt unsettled. My schoolwork suffered and I was regularly being called in by the discipline teacher.

“In the past, I had support from seniors who were still around, but once they left school and others either moved out or were expelled, I started to question how long I could keep this up,” he said.

Looking back, Rahimi said his biggest regret is realising how his actions had hurt those around him and left lasting damage.

“I deeply regret it. Even now, some of my classmates are too afraid to even say hello. A few have told me honestly that they’re still traumatised,” he added.