I saw a 30 minute newsreel more than a year ago. Shot at Malaya’s Independence ceremony, the archive film was in poor repair yet the spirit captured was unmistakable. I was struck by how people’s faces were more open then, how proud their eyes were and upright their stance - especially when held spellbound by Tunku Abdul Rahman, whose Proclamation Of Independence declared us to be:
“...forever a sovereign democratic and independent state founded upon the principles of liberty and justice and ever seeking the welfare and happiness of its people...”
That was in 1957. Although we would only become Malaysia in 1963, Tunku’s Merdeka speech clearly outlined the foundations of our country. Yet subsequent years have often seen us falter in the high principles that he envisioned. To the extent that modern Malaysia is a mixed bag of beauty and filth, I began to wonder if Tunku was alive today what he would make of us. I concluded that perhaps it would do us good to listen to him again.
Thus an idea began to take shape...
It occurred to me that I should make a time machine: a temporal device to transport Malaysia back to the days of its founding. In times of heightened political, religious and racial tension, perhaps time-traveling to where we began would be good. It might remind us of our greater commonality instead of our petty differences. Besides, all it would take is an evocative song, about 4 minutes of archive film footage, lots of phone calls and CGI visual effects. I was determined to find the money and make it happen.
I finally started it in March 2013. Co-producer Bahir Yeusuff and I began by hunting down archive footage to be licensed from FINAS. We then engaged the services of visual effect company Studio Voxel as well as singers Asmidar, Melina William and participating musicians.
Casting took place in the frantic days leading up to the 2013 General Election and principal photography shortly after it. From then forward, it only remained that we honor the memory of Tunku by doing the best work we can.
As I am writing this, we are two weeks from release and I am on my 28th straight day of working till dawn. It has been a tiring and oftentimes frustrating process. Yet I am immensely proud of the work we have accomplished. For this I have the team to thank. Most worked beyond bounds of duty to ensure that both video and songs are made the way they should be made - with fine detail, integrity and care. I personally feel that this is amongst the best work we have done so far.
I would also like to add a note of thanks to our funders. Private citizens and not corporations funded this project. Thus, there is no corporate logo anywhere. There is nothing to gain for these private individuals other than seeing the idea realized. I am honored by their trust and humbled by their belief. Their names are listed elsewhere on this site. Kindly thank them too if you know them.
Naturally, I hope you like the video. It says more about our country than I can. Please accept it as a Malaysia Day gift from all of us. It is given in the same spirit that Tunku gave us his vision all those years ago - from Malaysians to other Malaysians - be they brown, yellow, white, pink or Martian green.
Thanks for watching. Do us a favor and tell your friends.
4am 5th September 2013
Ambiga Sreenevasan
Asmidar
Benjamin Yong
David Arumugam
Jin Lim
Jo Kukathas
Lim Kit Siang
Liow Tiong Lai
Marina Mahathir
Melina William
Michelle Yeoh
Mohd Nazir b Tun Abdul Razak
Namewee
Ng Choo Seong
Nurul Izzah Anwar
Ramli Ibrahim
Reuben Kang
Saifuddin Abdullah
Santokh Singh
Sharifah Amani
Sharyn Lisa Shufiyan
Sofia Jane
Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah
Yasmin Ahmad
and more
Andreas Teoh
Arvind Mohan
Chris Wong
Daud Mohammad
Fatima B
Gan Kok Xan
Jeff Nawawi
Martin Peterson
Mustafa Ahmad
Wilson Sng
Yap Lim Sen
Yazid N. Hassan
Pete Teo
Bahir Yeusuff
Albert Law
Pete Teo
Yong Choon Lin
Mussadique Suleiman
Yasmin Suleiman
Jordan Suleiman
Muhammad Zaidi Abu Bakar
Ashrel Hafizi
Koh Tak Wei
Amir Hamzah Abdul Rahim
Huzaini Sahmawi
Vincent Chai
Loo Chun Yang
Chin Poh Yen
Loo Chun Yang
Teo Kok Wah
Yap Pui Lin
Ida Julianna Bt. Jalamuddin
Marina
Fauziah Ismail
Lim Benji
Jiayi Low
Lim Xin
Lixing Siow
Wendy Ng
Becky Anderson
Arlene Ngan
Kazuki Takami
Lisa Ngan
Leo Fung
Ooi Choong Han
Ooi H.S.
Patrick Ngan
Stephen Lim
Tan Peng Kian
Tan Wei Tee
Pete Teo
Amran Omar
Pete Teo
Asmidar
Tay Cher Siang
Sayaka Katsuki
Sayaka Katsuki
Momoko Sato
Keisuke Katsuki
Toru Nishijima
Nao Kikuchi
Pete Teo
Leo Fung
O.P. Redbag Music
S.P. Universal Music Publishing
Pete Teo
Melina William
Sharon Chong
Florian Antier
Pete Teo
Leo Fung
O.P. Redbag Music
S.P. Universal Music Publishing
Menyusuri detik waktu
Traveling back in time
Citra indah duniaku
Lid up my whole world
Sepanjang jalan di lalui
Along these long steps
Terpahat di hati
Something is marked into my heart
Kasih ku bersemi
It is the love I have seeded deeply
Adakah kau bersamaku
People are you still with me
Adakah kau bersamaku
People are you coming with me
Mengembara dalam tangis tawa
Traveling in tears and laughter
Kasih kita yang tiada batasnya
The love we have is endless
See how you go slipstreaming on.
Past crimson rose and fields of gold.
Along these fallowed steps to your heart
Where you did find me there
And I did come so far
People are you coming with me?
People are you coming with me?
So now we go through wind rain sleet and snow.
The love we speak is more than they'll ever know.