Autistic youth takes 260KM journey to chase dream of becoming emcee
Autistic man challenges perceptions with talent
KUALA LUMPUR - Setting aside his fears and believing in his talent, an autistic youth travelled 260 kilometres alone by bus from his hometown Pekan, Pahang, to the federal capital recently to participate in an audition for emcees and news readers for an online news channel.
Diagnosed with autism at the age of six, Muhammad Nur Aiman Razali, 21, told Bernama his ambition is to be an emcee or news reader and he wanted to prove that people with disabilities are also talented and independent, and capable of pursuing their dreams just like anyone else.
(Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, refers to a broad range of conditions characterised by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviours, speech and nonverbal communication.)
In fact, Muhammad Nur Aiman has in a way proven he has what it takes to achieve his ambition. He had previously, on his own initiative, assumed the role of an on-site reporter to create content for his TikTok account and his eloquent presentations captivated netizens, making it hard for many to believe he is autistic.
"Initially when I started making these (TikTok) videos. I used to be nervous and rather stiff in front of the camera. But my deep interest made me set those feelings aside and challenge myself to hone my skills,” he said, adding he first tried his hand at emceeing when he was 15 while in school.
"I felt so happy when people appreciated my talent... it gave me the courage I needed (to pursue my dream).”
Muhammad Nur Aiman, who idolises journalist and TV personality Anim Ezati Rizki, said he did not have much time to prepare for the recent audition in Kuala Lumpur "but I managed to perform spontaneously because mentally, I have been ready (for this job) for a long time”, adding he still has not been notified whether or not his audition was successful.
Determined to remove the stigma attached to people with autism, he said they too can soar high with their talents and even inspire others in similar situations.
"People may see me as normal, but actually, I’m not as there are different types of autism. To me, this platform (emceeing) is the most suitable avenue for me to give exposure to the public and enable them to have a better understanding of the type of autism I have,” said Muhammad Nur Aiman, who now has 17,000 followers on his TikTok account, @aeimanlee.
A former student of a vocational school, Muhammad Nur Aiman has a Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) in pastry making and hopes to pursue a university education. However, he said he finds it challenging to master English and Mathematics due to his condition.
"I was put in a special education class from Year One onwards as my teacher noticed I was slow in reading, counting and recognising letters. Then I showed progress and by Year Six, I could read a little. Speech was never a problem for me,” said Muhammad Nur Aiman, who sat for the 2023 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination as a private candidate.
He also said the positive comments he receives on his TikTok page have strengthened his resolve to pursue his ambition of becoming an emcee or news reader.
"I like his delivery style... so confident and full of conviction. The message he conveys is understandable, and the way he expresses himself is spot on, excellent,” commented @gilbert_panglomang, one of those who left positive feedback on Aiman Lee’s TikTok account. - BERNAMA
