‘One Two Jaga’: A film with lessons for our leaders

I may not have the same way of appreciating films like others. As a movie-goer, I don’t simply give credit for “entertaining” films with clichéd storylines starring “prominent stars” whose acting is nothing but overrated.

To me, a film, regardless of its genre, has to be “baked” with life lessons that can school people's minds, that is what makes a film a great masterpiece.

One Two Jaga has what it takes to be a great masterpiece. As an independent writer who observes politics, I feel called to express my insights about this film that drags me to immerse into the reality of corruption involving people with power and “sublime” mandates.

The film, despite garnering only a low turnout, should be applauded for picturing a scenario of illegal immigrants and “invincible powers” behind their survival for years. It tells the story of illegal immigrants and their employers who are reliant on “lustful” humans who abuse their powers to allow undocumented immigrants from neighbouring countries.

The film screens the life of desperate immigrants who are illegally hired by their employer to be workers in Kuala Lumpur. They engage in illegal activities with the “assistance” of a man who is silently affiliated with top-ranked police officers.

This “affiliation” leads to many mysterious crimes including black money, all that finds no intervention from the police.

I am unsure whether the film was inspirationally created from the unseen events that truly happened in this country or is just a fictional effort by the directors.

But their message is clearly sent to the hearts of viewers. One of the messages is about the animalistic attitude and ethics of the authorities who arrogantly abuse their powers and believe in "Cash is King". This should be food for thought for all of us.

Issues like a financial crisis, corruption and unethical leadership such as portrayed in this film have been suffered by the society that we live in and deal with. We might not realise that factors like financial constraints could turn a good-hearted man into a “lustful animal” that sells off his dignity just to be a temporary “king of cash”.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had, during the recent celebration of Malaysia Day in Padang Merdeka, said that the "Cash is king" mindset should be repainted with "Bersih (Clean), Cekap (Efficient) Amanah (Trustworthy)."

I believe that every lesson served in this film can be delved into by the current administrators of this new era of Malaysia in rebuilding the country to one that can be globally respected for its quality of governance.

Corruption and abuse of power must not be tolerated and consistently combated with the cooperation of every responsible party, regardless of their political sentiment.

For us Malaysians and also breathing humans, we should realise that there are no shortcuts to being rich. Every single step that we take towards achieving what we dream of becomes more meaningful if we are chaperoned by our decent deeds moulded by our sinless hearts. -Mkini