A Petronas petrol station staff in Malaysia recently went viral for something very unexpected. While doing his job, he didn't just guide cars in a normal way. Instead, he used fast, dramatic hand movements that looked like something from an anime. His actions were full of energy, almost like he was performing “ninjutsu” in real life.
Very quickly, the internet noticed him. Many people compared his movements to “Domain Expansion” from Jujutsu Kaisen, especially the famous character Gojo Satoru. Others said he looked like he was doing hand signs from Naruto Shippuden. Some people found it funny. Some found it entertaining. But not everyone was kind.
When I first saw the video on Facebook, I also went to read the comments. Some people were negatively laughing him. Some even asked if he had taken medicine (Source: Comments under Oriental Daily News Malaysia's Post). It felt unfair, because I didn't see anything wrong with what he was doing. For me, he looked positive, like he was trying to bring energy into his job.
Based on Leeroy Wong's video, his name is Muhammad Fakhrul Radzi bin Zulkfley, 23 years old, from Kuala Kangsar, Perak and the truth behind his viral performance is something many people didn't bother to understand. He didn't start doing this just for attention. He grew up loving anime especially Naruto Shippuden and Jujutsu Kaisen. These movements, these gestures, this energy, it's something that has lived inside him since he was young. What we see today is simply an extension of what he loves.
But more importantly. it's also his way of coping. Earlier this year, in February, Fakhrul lost his father. Grief is strange. It doesn't always show itself in silence of tears. Sometimes, it comes out in the way we move, the way we act, the way we try to keep going when everything inside us feels heavy.
For Fakhrul, performing these “anime-like” gestures became his outlet. A way to distract himself. A way to motivated at work. A way to keep his mind from sinking into sadness. He even shared that if he doesn't perform like this for a day, he feels down. Luckily, most of the people still appreciate him. His videos spread across social media. More people see him not as “weird” but as passionate, hardworking and unique. Some even made the effort to visit the station just to watch him in person.
Fakhrul shared that seeing people enjoy his videos made him feel like his work was being appreciated and that matters more than we think. Sometimes, all someone needs is to feel like what they're doing has meaning. Even Petronas recognised him and increased his salary after his videos went viral. But beyond the viral fame and recognition, there's one moment that says everything. His colleague, Daniel, shared that Fakhrul is actually shy. One day, when someone mentioned his father's passing, Fakhrul quietly walked to the back, hugged him and broke down in tears. That contrast is real. The person who looks the most energetic might be carrying the deepest sadness.
At the end of the video, Fakhrul left a message that feels simple, but powerful:
Keep fighting. Stay happy. Ignore toxic people. Don't focus on negativity. Enjoy the world while you can.
And maybe that's what his story is really about. Not just a viral video, not just “Ryoiki Tenkai” at a petrol station. But a reminder. That sometimes, people aren't being “extra”, they're just trying to heal. Sometimes, what looks strange is actually strength. And sometimes, the people we laugh at are the ones teaching us the most about resilience.
Felicia Yoan (feliciayoan11@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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