KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 30- ‘Tanda Putera’, a film directed by Datin Paduka Shuhaimi Baba, is a must-watch movie for all Malaysians, according to Umno Youth executive council member Lokman Noor Adam.
As such, he also called on the people, especially the young generation, to watch the historical biographical film about Malaysia’s second prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein and his then deputy Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman set around the time after the 1969 racial riots.
He said he personally had watched the movie twice and admitted that it really touched him emotionally.
“I cried half the time watching the movie.
“Besides showcasing the struggles of our previous leaders in restoring peace after the May 13 riot, the movie revolves around Tun Abdul Razak and Tun Dr Ismail who hide their illnesses to ensure political stability,” he said in a statement here Thursday.
Bernama check at the TGV cinemas in the city today found that most of the audience agreed that the movie was remarkable as it promoted the message of struggles.
Freelance photographer, Ng Koh Ying said the multi-racial people of Malaysia must watch the movie as they would understand the struggles and decisions made by the two former important leaders in the country.
“Although the Penang government decided to ban the screening of the movie in the state, we don’t have to follow their path and being unsupportive to the local film industry, especially when the movie was based on the country’s history,” said the Sarawak-born woman after watching the movie here today.
Raja Mohd Nazri Raja Md Esa, 27, also described the movie as a historical material that would help the young generation in understanding the meaning of struggles.
“The two statesmen had strived to carry out various plans to ensure stability and the future of the country. As the new generation, we should not gamble with what we have now,” he said.
Meanwhile, Seniman president Rozaidi Jamil, or better known as Zed Zaidi, said the move taken by the Penang government to ban the screening of the film in the state was seen as an attempt to hide a piece of the country’s history from the people, especially the younger generation.
“The state government has no power to stop the cinemas from screening certain films, it is actually up to Finas, LPF (Film Censorship Board) and the Communications and Multimedia Ministry.
“It is a very good movie and it is a story that needs to be told to the current generation. Don’t judge a book by its cover. Just watch it first,” he told Bernama when met at the Malaysian National News Agency’s Aidilfitri Open House here today.
In GEORGE TOWN, political analyst Assoc Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said asking cinemas not to screen the movie had also caused the openness and freedom bandied about by the Penang government and the opposition to be questioned by many.
“The move will be misinterpreted by the people. They should allow the movie to be watched by the people first before making any claims,” he told Bernama when contacted.
Sivamurugan said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng himself should watch the movie first before claiming that it had sensitive and defamatory elements against DAP and that it could pose threats to national unity and harmony.
Penang Malays Association (Pemenang) president Datuk Seri Mohd Yussof Latiff, on the other hand, said the movie should be able to teach the audience about what happened in the country 44 years ago.
“The film is approved by Filem Negara. The tragedy of 1969 is real…we should look at it the positive way and learn from it for the sake of our next generations.
“Let it be a reminder for us not to do things that can affect national unity,” he said.
Student Anis Nadia Ismail, 21, also expressed dissatisfaction over the state government’s decision to ban the screening of the movie in Penang.
“It’s a shame that the movie cannot be screened here when the spirit of patriotism among the young generation is declining.
“With this kind of film being produced, at least it can enhance public awareness, especially among the young generation, about the importance of maintaining racial harmony and unity,” she said.
In KUALA TERENGGANU, the Malaysian Malay Education Body (Gagasan) secretary-general Syed Anuar Syed Mohamad had cynically congratulated the Penang chief minister for making such a request to the cinemas in the state.
Syed Anuar also challenged the other two opposition-led state governments, Selangor and Kelantan, to take the same action.
“This is the true colour of the opposition leaders who not only have no love for the country, but will try their level best to confuse the people to the extent of creating tension in the country.
“We are confident that if they continue doing this, Malaysia will not enjoy peace in the future and may suffer a lot more than Egypt and Syria,” he told Bernama when contacted here today.
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– BERNAMA
