Pakatan Rakyat is seeking an advance screening of the film Tanda Putera as it is “very concerned” that the government-backed film may have contentious elements.
“From the trailer, we get the indication that it is a film that could spark racism and this is not good... We will be able to have a more holistic view once we get to view the whole film,” PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali said.
According to producer Pesona Pictures, the film depicts the relationship between second prime minister Abdul Razak Hussain and then-home minister Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman after the May 13, 1969 bloody riots.
“From the trailer, we get the indication that it is a film that could spark racism and this is not good... We will be able to have a more holistic view once we get to view the whole film,” PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali said.
According to producer Pesona Pictures, the film depicts the relationship between second prime minister Abdul Razak Hussain and then-home minister Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman after the May 13, 1969 bloody riots.
The film, fully-funded by the National Film Development Corporation (Finas) and directed by Shuhaimi Baba, was scheduled to hit cinemas on Sept 13, but this has been postponed to year's end.
According to the film’s official Facebook page, a scene in the film depicts DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang purportedly urinating on a flagpole in front of the Selangor menteri besar’s residence.
“Lim Kit Siang telah kencing di bawah tiang bendera Selangor yang terpacak di rumah menteri besar Selangor ketika itu, Harun Idris (Lim Kit Siang had urinated at the foot of the flagpole bearing the Selangor flag at the then Selangor MB’s Harun Idris’ house)” read the caption of a photo of the actor portraying Lim being manhandled.
The photograph and caption have since been removed from the Facebook page, while Lim has denied the allegations.
According to DAP Youth chief Anthony Loke, this was a familiar tactic used by the BN to paint the DAP in a bad light and to shake Malay support for its partners PAS and PKR.
“Then MCA will use hudud to scare the Chinese from voting PAS,” he said at the press conference at PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya today.
State funding to sow discord?
Also at the press conference was PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar who said that Pakatan is seeking a preview from the government as the film is state-funded.
“It’s not just about the content but the question of public funds, which should be used to unite and sow harmony and not perpetuate the BN government’s narrow agenda,” she said.
Pakatan has not contacted the producers for permission to view the film in full.
When contacted earlier, Tanda Putera director refused comment on the matter, arguing that the movie should be screened to the public before it can be reviewed.
“I am loath to answer that question as people have not watched the film yet. It is better for them to have watched it first,” said Shuhaimi.
According to the film’s official Facebook page, a scene in the film depicts DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang purportedly urinating on a flagpole in front of the Selangor menteri besar’s residence.
“Lim Kit Siang telah kencing di bawah tiang bendera Selangor yang terpacak di rumah menteri besar Selangor ketika itu, Harun Idris (Lim Kit Siang had urinated at the foot of the flagpole bearing the Selangor flag at the then Selangor MB’s Harun Idris’ house)” read the caption of a photo of the actor portraying Lim being manhandled.The photograph and caption have since been removed from the Facebook page, while Lim has denied the allegations.
According to DAP Youth chief Anthony Loke, this was a familiar tactic used by the BN to paint the DAP in a bad light and to shake Malay support for its partners PAS and PKR.
“Then MCA will use hudud to scare the Chinese from voting PAS,” he said at the press conference at PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya today.
State funding to sow discord?
Also at the press conference was PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar who said that Pakatan is seeking a preview from the government as the film is state-funded.
“It’s not just about the content but the question of public funds, which should be used to unite and sow harmony and not perpetuate the BN government’s narrow agenda,” she said.Pakatan has not contacted the producers for permission to view the film in full.
When contacted earlier, Tanda Putera director refused comment on the matter, arguing that the movie should be screened to the public before it can be reviewed.
“I am loath to answer that question as people have not watched the film yet. It is better for them to have watched it first,” said Shuhaimi.
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