Shuhaimi Baba relieved with Tanda Putera release

“I am totally relieved with the release of my film as I was on the verge of giving up.”

These were the words of controversial local film Tanda Putera’s director Datin Paduka Shuhaimi Baba, immediately after she received the news that her film will be released for public screening on Aug 29.

Shuhaimi said once the news is out, the artists who acted in the film, all arrived at her house with only on question on their minds.

“Is it true? Is it true? That was the only questions that they asked. It is good news. We are all really relieved that the film will finally see the light of the day,” she told Astro AWANI.

Shuhaimi who was elated by the decision, described the journey leading up to the release as nothing short of a nightmare.

“We have written to the Malaysian National Film Development Corporation (Finas) centre so many times on the details of the release.

“In fact, a group of bloggers have asked us if we could release the movie after the 13th General Election. We didn’t mind showing it after the elections.

“We wrote to Finas and were waiting for a response. We guess it is not necessary now,” she said.

When asked if the Tanda Putera team will be holding a celebration to mark the release of the film, Shuhaimi said they would put on hold any such celebration for the moment.

“We will wait for the official black and white letter from Finas before we take the next course of action,” she said.

Earlier today, the Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the film, the film, which depicts events during the May 13, 1969 riots, focusing on Malaysia's second Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein and his deputy Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, will be released on Aug 29.

“People have been waiting for the film to come out, so the sooner the better," he had said.

Produced in 2011 by Persona Pictures Sdn Bhd, the RM4 million film carries a PG13 rating and was supposed to be screened from Nov 15 last year.

The Cabinet earlier held back the screening of the film as it was concerned it would cause conflict among communities.