Saviour or destroyer? Short film explores Dr Mahathir's role

Updated 8 years ago · Published on 2 Mar 2018 7:00AM · 2 Comments

CAN you trust the man blamed for destroying Malaysia’s democracy to now save the nation? This is the question at the heart of the new film by The Malaysian Insight’s Sheridan Mahavera.

“Saving Malaysia” is about the most unexpected turn in modern Malaysian politics, as some of the country’s most highly regarded opposition leaders now work with the man who once put them in jail – Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Although the 92-year-old is now the Prime Minister’s candidate for the main opposition coalition, Pakatan Harapan, that choice remains controversial. The disbelief among ordinary voters and the vocal #undirosak campaign is a testament to how divisive that choice has become.

The film talks to civil society activists, Pakatan Harapan members and leaders on why they chose to work with him while others argue against giving him a prominent role. Some of these interviewees are people that Dr Mahathir himself has hurt in his 22 years in power.

The film was produced by the Freedom Film Network, which strives to develop social films in the country. They are the people behind Freedom Film Fest, the nation’s best known human rights film festival. – March 2, 2018.

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Comments

  • Great Video!

    For now, PH will be a catalyst or utility to unseat UMNO/BN. Thereafter ensure our mass media is put to good use to inculcate and nurture a realization in the hearts of all Malaysians that we are all an amalgamation of diverse genes not limited by religio-communal labels.

    We must ensure that communal based parties must dissolve out of necessity into one that includes all Malaysians, taking cognizant of the irrefutable universal law: That where there is division, there will be conflicts. Conflicts are inefficient for nationhood to be. Therefore please make a conscious effort to remove any tiny seed or virus that will fester into conflict, paving the way for peace and progress in the spirit of humanism. There is an apt aphorism, " insanity is repeating the same dysfunctional mentality expecting a different outcome!"

    Posted 8 years ago by Arun Paul · Reply

  • This is a very good film that addresses directly the questions many will have about Bersatu and Mahathir in PH. Why call the party "Pribumi" which is still racially based? My own takeaway is the the reality is that in last GE13, UMNO still win many (88) seats, even in West Malaysia (73 seats). Not all in UMNO are unprincipled, some still are but yet to find a Malay alternative - I think we all wish race-based politics will end overnight but reality is this will take a generation and so, Bersatu is there to temporarily bridge a gap. There will of course remains risks, but the choice is certain condemnation (if no change) vs risks (and hope). As Nurul Izzah says - they will still be there to monitor and steer the course if necessary. Bottom line for me is that since the current leadership are unrepetent, showed no remorse, no acknowledgement of wrong doing, and continue to rob the nation with increasing manner (bigger 1MDB debt, bigger national debt), the top priority remains to stop the bleeding.

    Posted 8 years ago by Seng Hong Teoh · Reply