Who wouldn’t be proud to learn that some of our local talents have appeared in international TV series and films? Both veterans and newcomers have shown that Malaysia has what it takes to succeed in the global entertainment industry, securing these roles either through online auditions or by moving abroad to start afresh.
Now, it seems this Malaysian-born actor is making waves after appearing in the latest episode of the highly popular Korean TV series, “Taxi Driver” (모범택시). Let’s take a closer look at the star and the roles he has played:
For those who may not be familiar, “Taxi Driver” is a South Korean series on Viu that follows Kim Do-gi (played by Lee Je-hoon), a former special forces officer who seeks revenge by working for a secret taxi company called Rainbow Taxi. The company offers a “revenge-call” service to victims wronged by the justice system, with Do-gi and his team exacting vengeance on those who have escaped punishment.
The third season premiered last month in November, with episode four airing over the weekend. In that episode, the main character arrives at a suspicious car factory, where he encounters a foreign staff member who tries to confront him before slipping on spilt petrol. Malaysian fans tuning in noticed that the staff member was speaking Malay, shouting at the protagonist, “Woi! Itu fon aku bodoh! Sial, kau nak pergi mana?! P*****k!!”
As it turns out, the actor is actually Malaysian! Credited as Muhammad Amir Haiqal, he has been living in South Korea for 7 years now and pursuing acting roles, both on screen and on stage, according to his official social media pages. He’s also made appearances on “A Shop For Killers Season 1” and “Hideaway”, with the latter being released last month. Although he is fluent in Korean, for this role in “Taxi Driver”, he proved he hasn’t forgotten his mother tongue. It is currently unclear how he secured the job, but regardless, his appearance in the episode instantly went viral back in his home country.
As seen in the screenshots above, many were surprised that a Malaysian actor had been cast in the role. Others were amused by his lines and the “mat rempit” portrayal. Some were thrilled to see someone from their country get the chance to act alongside some of Korea’s biggest stars. Safe to assume that Amir Haiqal has certainly made Malaysia proud. May he continue to thrive and get even bigger roles in the future!
Watch his viral scene below:
His interview with ERA Sarawak:
