YOURSAY | ‘To portray all non-Malays as brutal is unfair.’

COMMENT | Mat Kilau and demystifying the 1891-95 Pahang uprising

Vijay47: Ahh! Films and the silver screen! In keeping with movie tradition, let me start with a prequel – just two days ago, by happy or unhappy coincidence, I saw “The Da Vinci Code” (Tom Hanks), which depicts 2,000-year-old plots within the Vatican, popes and bishops, mysterious tales of Mary Magdalene, and disputes regarding the divinity of Jesus Christ.

Fans may be glad to know that I did not run amok and burn down my house. I was too busy laughing. Cut to the present. First, thank you, independent historian, Ranjit Singh Malhi, for sharing with us the hidden history of life during long-ago years in Pahang and Selangor.

With the detailed information you have stated, not many silat warriors would want to take you on and I am sure your blood will easily see you through should the usual reports be made against you for supposed disrespect to the sultans.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I note that Mat Kilau’s adventures were in the interests of race and religion. Religion? In the 1890s? I grew up in Kedah, served in Kelantan, and religion was never a visible element in either state despite the Malays going about their faith obligations fervently. And silently.

How art imitates life! ‘Mat Kilau The Movie’ must have travelled in the DeLorean since it is so reminiscent of present-day political reality - working towards the unity of race and religion, and with enough non-Malays to play the villain roles.

My only surprise is that the film does not mention Jho Low’s (Low Taek Jho) ancestors.

Koel: Thank you, Prof. It would be wise for filmmakers attempting history to also attempt an unvarnished knowledge of the event before foisting it on uncritical moviegoers.

I say this because one sees online comments stating that the movie is a faithful representation of facts. In a country with an abysmal reading record, such comments are not unusual - and artists such as filmmakers need such awareness.

And clearly, the qualifying statement at the start of the movie (that it is fictional) has not worked either. But even for fiction, there is a crass racial representation that will bring this movie and its producers disrepute among discerning audiences.

It’s time to wise up to politically correct discourse, folks. Of course, if you just want some ethnonationalist propaganda to provide an ‘us vs them’ division to prepare for upcoming elections, this movie might do that job. But what an insult to history and to movie-making!

What? The sultan sold land to foreigners?

Gerard Lourdesamy: To me, any movie that espouses ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ is problematic because it is a political construct that only came into prominence in the 20th century largely due to Umno.

And to portray all non-Malays as brutal is unfair. I wonder if the National Film Development Corporation (Finas) and relevant authorities would permit any film that would similarly highlight the Malays under the mantra of artistic licence?

That is why I prefer to only watch Malay horror movies. At least, they are entertaining and devoid of political undertones and subliminal messaging.

William Tell: Ranjit Singh has given a historically accurate depiction of the Pahang rebellion of 1891-1895. All that is required for Malaysians to do is to read the historical sources. Sadly, for many Malays, such is not the case.

While the film director has displayed his artistic licence brazenly in the film, his film seems to pander to narrow-minded Malay ethnonationalism and so-called religious inspiration with negative consequences for ethnic harmony and understanding in Malaysia. We don't need this.

Sadly, even a sultan of one state has alluded to the film to show what can happen if there is no unity among the Malays.

The early rebellions against the British in the Malay states had nothing to do with nationalism, freedom or any lofty political consciousness.

It is time to realise that these rebellions resulted from personal dissatisfaction, greed, lust for power and, above all, the unwillingness to put an end to the oppressive and murderous feudal system that was such a heavy and onerous burden to the ordinary Malays who had no recourse whatsoever to redeem themselves from such tyranny and oppression.

VP Biden: It's a common theme where the colonials ruled, be it British, French, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, Belgian etc, in Africa, the Americas and Asia, deals were made with the local chiefs, kings and leaders with monetary incentives to keep them under control.

And when the chieftains see the riches that are looted by the colonists, they demand more for their own pockets, not for the citizens.

Most independence movements were carried by ordinary citizens globally, not by those with a silver spoon in their mouths who were well-fed by the invaders.

OrangePanther1466: As a fictional film depicting purported events of the past, the producers have done a tremendous job, winning accolades. The grants given for production and marketing are well spent. The future of the local filmmaking industry seems bright and I hope more talents can be nurtured.

The film has also ignited interest in the factual history of Pahang during that period, which is good. As they say, we learn from history to avoid future pitfalls. For sure, during Mat Kilau's time and the Pahang Uprising, it was not about Ketuanan Melayu or Islam.

It was about greed, personal interest and power. Not much of a difference after more than a century as our current crop of politicians still aspire for all that.

MS: As reported elsewhere, the director, in an interview by Harian Metro, was quoted as saying that it is “more of an ideology” and he directed the movie in a way to “uplift religion and race”.

So, I ask the connected director, why uplift the greatest religion on earth and the Malay majority, which enjoys every privilege the country can afford? Unless, of course, you believe both are in the pits. And if you do, why?

And pray, tell us what exactly is the ideology you tried to promote? I understand it cost RM1.5 million excluding the cost to market it. Surely, it has a name. Does it by chance, have two words … one starting with K and the other with M?

This retelling of history by Ranjit Singh only proves once again that anything blessed by Putrajaya and its divisive politics, be it a book or movie, will be nothing more than lies dressed up as truth to help reassure the congenitally insecure.

Then again, that is to be expected of a regime which itself is founded on and perpetuated by lies. The fictional “Mat Kilau” will soon be as forgotten as ‘Tanda Putera’.

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