The Prophet of Performance: Why DMA Islam’s Rhetoric Demands Scrutiny
Behind the confidence and charisma lies a deeper question: Are we confusing style for substance?
He doesn’t cry. He says he was born stoic. He speaks with conviction. And if you’re not achieving success like him, you’re just not trying hard enough.
Welcome to the world of DMA Islam — one of Malaysia’s loudest voices in the self-made, mindset-first movement.
But beneath the crafted poses and viral quotes lies something more troubling: a hollow brand that thrives on dismissing intellectual effort, promoting one-dimensional masculinity, and undermining the very professions that helped build his platform.
This isn’t a personal attack. It’s a critical look at influence in the age of algorithms.
The Anti-Degree Rhetoric
DMA has said, repeatedly, that degrees are unnecessary — that university education is a scam.
And while it’s true that formal education isn’t the only path to success, rejecting it outright without offering credible alternatives isn’t brave — it’s irresponsible.
It’s fair to critique poor systems. But it’s dishonest to lump all academic efforts into the same bin of “useless.”
No Degree? Then Show the Discipline
To challenge the institution of education, one must offer better — or at least, comparable — insights, evidence, or methods.
But DMA’s content rarely offers that. There are no learning frameworks. No credible references. No clear expertise in any field.
That’s not disruption. That’s just volume.
Even many successful self-taught entrepreneurs today are grounded in hours of reading, case studies, public reflection, or mentorship lineage. That’s what earns trust. Influence, without accountability or traceable depth, isn’t leadership — it’s just noise.
There’s a myth that confidence equals competence — and DMA’s style feeds that myth. We live in a time where algorithmic success is often mistaken for intellectual success. Being viral does not mean being valid. It’s the classic “TikTok professor” effect: high energy, low depth.
The Irony of Attacking Mass Comm and Theatre
DMA went viral mocking creative arts degrees like Mass Comm and Theatre — calling them the dumbest courses in Malaysia.
Yet his success is built on media performance: camera presence, storytelling, editing, and virality.
He is, in fact, practicing the very disciplines he mocks.
The difference is: others studied it, refined it, and respected it.
What makes this worse is that his statements delegitimize real people doing honest work. Theatre isn’t just acting. It’s psychology, empathy, memory work, rhythm, and projection. Mass Comm isn’t just making posters — it’s crisis management, communication strategy, journalism, research, and public engagement.
By reducing them to “dumb,” he disrespects a whole ecosystem of cultural contributors.
What’s especially frustrating is how often creatives are the first to be attacked, yet the last to be defended. Artists and media professionals are central to how we see, understand, and critique our society. Without them, there is no voice. No satire. No representation. To mock these fields is to mock the storytellers of our generation — the ones who actually challenge the powerful, not perform as them.
Steeple Poses Don’t Equal Wisdom
DMA is known for his body language — especially the “steeple” pose meant to convey power.
It’s visual branding, sure. But without real ideas behind the pose, it feels like theatre.
Real authority isn’t in gestures — it’s in integrity and grounded knowledge.
Anyone can copy a power pose. The internet is full of tutorials. But influence without substance is what led us to the era of viral mediocrity — where confidence often overshadows credibility. Our standard for public figures must evolve past aesthetics. We need to ask: what are you really offering?
Stoicism or Suppression?
DMA’s claim of not crying at birth has become symbolic of his version of stoicism. But this isn’t real Stoic philosophy. It’s emotional denial masquerading as strength. Malaysian men are already under pressure to remain silent about mental health. We don’t need more influencers turning repression into a performance.
And we need to stop confusing quiet suffering with spiritual superiority. Mental health isn’t solved by posturing. Healing isn’t found in silence. If you’re telling young men that the answer is to bury their pain and “man up,” you’re not building resilience. You’re breeding implosion.
And that implosion has real effects — broken families, angry relationships, men who bottle everything until they break. We’ve seen it in statistics, in crime, in suicide rates. We can’t afford more role models who promote emotional shutdown as success.
Religious Language with Secular Intent
DMA frequently uses Islamic references. He wraps his messaging in modestwear and Arabic phrases.
But the tone, the mockery, the lack of humility — often contradict the values he appears to represent.
Faith isn’t branding. And religion isn’t a get-out-of-criticism-free card.
It’s not about policing how Muslims speak — it’s about protecting the integrity of faith. If Islam is invoked as part of a brand, it must be treated with the weight and sincerity it deserves. Otherwise, it becomes another tool in a marketing arsenal.
A faith-driven platform should reflect the very values it claims to promote: sincerity, knowledge, and compassion. That’s what the Prophet (PBUH) embodied. If what we present instead is mockery, dismissal, and arrogance — we’ve lost the essence, no matter how Islamic the wrapping.
Conclusion:
DMA Islam’s rise reflects a broader problem in how we consume influence: we celebrate performance over principle, charisma over competence.
It’s okay to be inspired by confidence. But let’s not confuse it with character.
In a country hungry for role models, we must demand more from those who speak the loudest.
If you believe public voices should be held to public standards, share this. Question what we glorify. Choose substance.
@noraimanismail | thecomplianceproject.substack.com