Youth chief defends DAP leaders for promoting 'Mat Kilau'

INTERVIEW | Time spent with his four-month-old baby has kept DAP Youth chief Dr Kelvin Yii away from the cinemas, unlike several of his party colleagues who hosted viewing sessions for the latest Malaysian blockbuster ‘Mat Kilau’.

Amid criticisms for the movie's portrayal of non-Malay characters, Yii said he believes the DAP leaders had intended to promote a local production inspired by the country's history.

"Many DAP leaders have screened it for free in their constituencies.

"We want to promote the importance of (supporting a) local production," Yii (above, right) said in an interview with Malaysiakini.

"I have no idea about details of the production, please don't spoil it for me," he quipped.

The story is set in 1892 during the British colonial rule in Pahang, three years prior to the formation of the Federated Malay States.

‘Mat Kilau’ gained rave reviews from a largely Malay audience for the movie's portrayal of historical characters and intricate silat battles against British colonisers.

The film's critics, however, noted how the intense fight scenes failed to distract from a script that saw multiple characters - in outfits that at times appeared out of place for the time period - repeating lengthy dialogues on the rise of Malay-Muslim nationalism in the fight against their oppressors.

The lone Chinese character in the movie was also portrayed as a conniving traitor working as a British informer to protect his own interests.

Subsequently, DAP leaders who hosted and attended the movie screenings, including Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching, were criticised for their role to promote the movie.

Asked for his views, Yii reminded us that he has yet to see the movie.

"I don't understand the sentiment. But I think for DAP MPs, our intention is to promote local productions.

"For any historical movie or anything at all, we have to see it from the lens of not just one race,” he said.

"For example, were there traitors from among the Malays, Chinese and Indians? Yes, there were.

"Were there independent fighters among these groups as well? Yes, there were. So the fight for independence is not just the fight of one race, but of every race.

"The issue is not about race but about the problem at hand," he stressed.

Rather than triggering debates, Yii said criticisms over any historical or cultural inaccuracies in the movie could be used as a conversation point to learn more about Malaysia's real history.

Relevant to today’s politics

PKR information chief Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin, who also recently hosted a free Mat Kilau screening, said there are narratives in the movie that remain relevant today - on the fight against unfair taxation, as well as to stand against traitors.

"These two areas remain relevant to our political context if we were to interpret elements in the movie. In any struggle, there will be traitors and we must be constantly vigilant to fight them.

"We can't allow any leaders to act like the British colonisers," Shamsul told Malaysiakini.

Asked about his views on a dominant message against allowing non-Muslims to lead, and whether it goes against PKR's ideology, the Hang Tuah Jaya MP pointed out the movie was set in the context of fighting against the British colonisers.

"Whether the message can influence people (now), I don't think it would be easy. We live in a multi-cultural society," Shamsul added.

Politicians, including those from PAS, had in recent weeks attempted to ride on the ‘Mat Kilau’ phenomena by rallying their supporters around the Malay-Muslim unity revival spirit.

Since its launch, ‘Mat Kilau’ has earned RM53 million in 13 days and is now the highest-grossing Malaysian film of all time.

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