YOURSAY 'Why does Shuhaimi worry about netizens' postings? She has the whole BN machinery campaigning and promoting her film.'

'Sabotaging of Tanda Putera ruins local film industry'

Karma: Tanda Putera director Shuhaimi Baba said, "Slandering and inciting (hatred) not only affects our rice bowls, but also hurts the local film industry."

Well, you deserve it when you use lies to portray history. People are angry at you. You made all those who had not read much about and was not born during the May 13, 1969 riot to believe a lie as factual history.

If you do not play politics, then why did you lie about the Chinese urinating at the Selangor MB's flag pole, causing him to say the Malays were losing patience? This is a lie to cause hatred among the different races.

Mikey : I went to see ‘Tanda Putera' with a friend and there were only two of us in the whole cinema (GSC Signature). I am not sure if this is the result of a boycott, or maybe people just felt it was distasteful.

As a producer or director, you are entitled to your version of history but you should be prepared to face others who may dispute your version. Personally, I don't think that taxpayers should be paying for the movie.

I think as Malaysians, we should not be too emotional about this. When ‘Braveheart' was released in the United Kingdom, many felt that the historical accuracy was way off tangent. Of course, every single Scotsman went to see the movie wearing a kilt and warpaint on his face.

They say history is written by the victors, that's all that is happening here. May 13 was a great tragedy for all Malaysians. It was the day we failed as countrymen. The director failed to make this message in her movie.

Abasir: Shuhaimi, your rice bowl is continually and shamelessly filled by taxpayers' funds via Finas (National Film Development Corporation) and MDeC (Multimedia Development Corporation). So no worries there.

As for slandering, you started it by orchestrating the slander against DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang through your Facebook page, and now Tourism Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz slanders all the Chinese by blaming them for May 13.

And finally your comment, "we are only filmmakers, and not contesting in the election" is laughable. You are a politician first and foremost, receiving political support from Umno. You chose to selectively display your "creative licence" to Felda settlers and UiTM (Universiti Teknologi Mara) students because of the racist politics you chose to play.

So please stop this crap about being an innocent filmmaker because you have already exposed yourself and your political intentions. You are one reason this country remains hopelessly divided. You are clearly Malay first and Malaysian ... never.

Onyourtoes: The urinating scene, if it was done in a movie that has nothing to do with racial conflict, would be okay with me because it is personal.

Such a scene in a movie that has to do with history and racial relations is different. It has implications beyond that of an individual. It is insulting to the whole race and its culture.

Supercession: My, when it is convenient, she plays the poor filmmaker needing to feed herself. At other times, she sells her soul to Umno and acts as their propagandist.

The truth is Shuhaimi has never been a credible filmmaker. She should consider giving up directing film and selling nasi lemak.

CiViC: Let me get this straight Shuhaimi Baba, your film was made with public funds, meaning at no cost to you. Your film was screened for free to many institutions, supported by the federal government.

Your film came highly recommended by all in the federal government and the mainstream media. Your film was given a "must screen" directive by Finas.

And your film was the only one let off when it involves the darkest times of Malaysian history, while many others did not even make it to the silver screens just because there were deemed to contain "seditious" elements.

And now that it has failed pathetically in the box office, you claim sabotage? Great. You just qualified yourself as the next chairman of MAS (Malaysia Airlines).

Vijay47: Just in case you are interested, Shuhaimi "Scorsese" Baba, there is a website called IMDB (Internet Movie Data Base) which does reviews on almost every film produced and gives interesting facts about the movie, including stars, director and crew, takings, etc.

The site also has two subsections, ‘Trivia' which provides behind-the-scenes tidbits, and ‘Goofs', which lists out all the factual plot and other mistakes the movie had.

Considering the sheer range of absolute lack of attention to detail in your Oscar-winning movie, IMDB would need two ‘Goofs' websites to point out and comment on the total mess you made.

You kindly reminded us that even epic films from the West have mistakes in them. True, but I don't think the producers get their government to force cinema operators to screen their movies, they rely on quality. They might yet learn from you.

I note also that you lament that Malaysians have lost their "humanity". What does that word mean? Before I fade to black, you added that you are not standing for elections. Maybe you should.

I am sure Finas can campaign for you, all in the name of artistic licence, of course.

With full BN backing, 'Tanda' should be box office hit

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