Poor turnout for three screenings of Tanda Putera at Mid Valley

Controversial film Tanda Putera, whose producers were denied approval to screen it three times in the last year, drew few viewers at its first public screening in a local mall today.

The government movie directed by Datin Paduka Shuhaimi Baba had 12 viewers in the large cinema hall at Mid Valley Megamall, Kuala Lumpur.

Those who attended the 11am screening, however, were happy with what they saw after all the controversy that surrounded it.

"To me, this is such a great movie. It shows what a true statesman is and how they would do anything for the country," said Hanim Azira, 29, a broker who took a day off from work to watch it.

She did not fault the director for including racially sensitive scenes. Instead, Hanim thought it was necessary to have the scenes of the riots included.

"Since the film is about the statesmen during the 1969 period, it is natural to have scenes of the riots which have elements of racism," she told The Malaysian Insider.

Zaidi Sidek, 33, felt the film aimed to stir one's patriotism.

"I do not think the movie is racist. It is just portraying a storyline. Moreover, it is about historical facts," said Mohd Razif Ahmad Fuad, 30, a civil servant.

The 1pm and 4.20pm shows saw a collective turnout of 25 patrons.

Tanda Putera has been repeatedly condemned by netizens and the DAP, who said it stoked racial hatred by showing scenes in which the Chinese appeared to be ones who caused May 13.

Last year, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang criticised the production company when it uploaded a photograph of him being arrested by the police, with a caption "Lim Kit Siang urinating on the flagpole at the home of Selangor Menteri Besar" on the film's official Facebook page.

It was later removed after the company received numerous complaints.

The first half of the movie repeatedly showed Chinese rioters with DAP flags looking to attack Malays. Lines such as "Melayu balik kampung" (Malays go back home) and "Melayu pergi mati" (Malays go die) were also uttered.

All the 12 viewers, who were Malays, did not find the film offensive or racially sensitive.

Shuhaimi said last week her film is an interpretation of historical events derived from multiple opinions.

The film is expected to draw more viewers at its later screenings today.

However, it has yet to open in Penang after cinema houses there elected to follow an advisory from the state government which felt it promotes hatred instead of racial harmony between the races.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state has not banned any cinema operator from screening the controversial film.

"Just like any travel advisory issued by the government for the safety of citizens travelling in strife-torn or dangerous countries, this advisory is issued to cinema operators to highlight to the public the dangerous lies in this film that can only threaten and tear the fabric of national and racial unity in the country," Lim said in a statement issued in George Town today.

He added that both local councils - the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) and Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) - will not punish cinema operators in Penang for screening the film.

The chief minister also said that the fact that Tanda Putera, which cost RM4.8 million to produce, was a joint effort by the National Film Development Corporation (Finas) and the Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) is evidence of the Federal government's full official endorsement of the film, including the fictitious scenes in the movie.

"The director admitted the scenes are untrue but explained it as creative licence,  but that does not give anyone the licence to spread lies that may cause racial disharmony and conflicts.

"This raises questions whether promoting racial hatred against minorities and blaming them as the source of all problems is part of the justification and excuse for abuses of power and corruption," Lim asked.

He added that his state government was concerned that the demonisation of minorities in the film may lead to future brutalisation of their rights and that of any Malaysian who advocates universal human rights for all.