Caught in a firestorm of protest over her controversial movie, Tanda Putera, Shuhaimi Baba has revealed that she received death threats.

tanda putera premiere 200813 reception 02 Although unnerved, the veteran filmmaker, however, refused to be cowed.

Speaking to Berita Harian , Shuhaimi revealed that the threats involved those who wanted to "cast her into hell".

"One individual also threatened to burn my office if I go on with the screening of the movie. Then there are those who want to cast me into hell. Who wouldn't be afraid?

"I am only a filmmaker, why this excessive response? When these threats increase, I grew numb (of it)," she said.

She was responding to a question on what was the worst that she had to face since the controversy erupted over her movie.

Public outcry

The film had been delayed since last year until Aug 29 due to a public outcry against it, in particular on its portrayal of the May 13, 1969 racial riots.

tanda putera premiere 200813 director suhaimi baba 02 Despite the death threats, Shuhaimi said she had no plans to lodge a police report because she believes the perpetrators were "only brave when they are anonymous."

Among others, the director had been accused of furthering a political agenda in skewing the script to cast the impression that it was the Chinese who instigated the racial bloodletting.

Shuhaimi also drew flak over a fictitious scene in which a group of Chinese youths were depicted as urinating on a flagpole.

The director defended this on the grounds of creative licence.

In the latest box office ratings, Tanda Putera had clinched the sixth spot in the Top Ten list.

Asked about another film KL Zombi having outperformed Tanda Putera at the box office, she said this was expected due to its "lightweight" story and its actor Zizan Razak's popularity.

"As I have always said, I took up the challenge (of making this film) as a part of CSR (corporate social responsibility)," she said, adding that she was well aware of the public reception towards nationalistic films.

On another matter, she said although there were only two days left where the film must be screened, she hoped that cinemas in Penang would screen her film for two additional days, since it was delayed by the state government’s advisory not to screen it.

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