'Tanda Putera' to be released on Aug 29

The controversial local film ‘Tanda Putera’ will be released on Aug 29 in cinemas nationwide.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek said his ministry and the Malaysian National Film Development Corporation (Finas) have given the go-ahead for the film to be screened.

The film, said to revolve around the May 13, 1969 riots, depicts the relationship between former premier Abdul Razak Hussein and his deputy Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman will be rated PG13. 

Shabery, who said ‘Tanda Putera’ is a film with a "national theme", admitted that he personally wants to see the film released "as early as possible".

"The film has been completed for over a year now. The were controversy and concerns surrounding the film before the elections, but now that the elections have passed, I don't think the concerns are so prevalent right now," Ahmad Shabery said.

The date has been set at Aug 29 so as not to coincide with two other Malay movies to be released on Aug 8, during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri festivities.

‘Tanda Putera’, directed by Shuhaimi Baba (left), was made at a cost of RM4.8 million. It entered production in 2011 and was complete by the middle of last year.

The screening was deferred twice last year. Last November, the cabinet decided that a few scenes were "inappropriate".

However, the film was then screened selectively to Felda settlers and to students of Universiti Islam Antarabangsa in the weeks leading up to the general election on May 5.