HARI MALAYSIA

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ABOUT THE PROJECT

ABOUT THE PROJECT

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.

PETE TEO

4am 5th September 2013

THE VIDEOS

CREDITS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

CAST LIST

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

SUPPORTED BY

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

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Pete Teo

PRODUCERS

Bahir Yeusuff
Albert Law

DIRECTOR & EDITOR

Pete Teo

DOP

Yong Choon Lin
Mussadique Suleiman

VFX PRODUCER

Yasmin Suleiman

VFX SUPERVISORS

Jordan Suleiman
Muhammad Zaidi Abu Bakar

VFX ARTISTS

Ashrel Hafizi
Koh Tak Wei
Amir Hamzah Abdul Rahim
Huzaini Sahmawi

GAFFER

Vincent Chai

GRIPS

Loo Chun Yang
Chin Poh Yen
Loo Chun Yang
Teo Kok Wah

MAKEUP

Yap Pui Lin
Ida Julianna Bt. Jalamuddin
Marina
Fauziah Ismail

MAKING OF

Lim Benji

VOLUNTEERS

Jiayi Low
Lim Xin
Lixing Siow
Wendy Ng

P'S ASSISTANT

Becky Anderson

WEB DESIGN

Tommy Ng

THANKS TO

Arlene Ngan
Kazuki Takami
Lisa Ngan
Leo Fung
Ooi Choong Han
Ooi H.S.
Patrick Ngan
Stephen Lim
Tan Peng Kian
Tan Wei Tee

"KEMBARA"

MUSIC

Pete Teo

LYRICS

Amran Omar
Pete Teo

VOCALS

Asmidar

PIANO

Tay Cher Siang

STRINGS ARRANGEMENT

Sayaka Katsuki

VIOLIN & VIOLA

Sayaka Katsuki
Momoko Sato

CELLO

Keisuke Katsuki

BASS

Toru Nishijima

OBOE

Nao Kikuchi

MIX

Pete Teo

MASTERING

Leo Fung

PUBLISHERS

O.P. Redbag Music
S.P. Universal Music Publishing

Vocals Recorded at Redbag Studio by Pete Teo. Piano Recorded at Ark Studios by Nick Lee. Strings Recorded at Volta Studio Japan by Takashi Akaku

"SLIPSTREAM"

WORDS & MUSIC

Pete Teo

VOCALS

Melina William

PIANO

Sharon Chong

CELLO

Florian Antier

MIX

Pete Teo

MASTERING

Leo Fung

PUBLISHERS

O.P. Redbag Music
S.P. Universal Music Publishing

Recorded at Redbag Studio
by Pete Teo

LINKS

Proclamation of Independence
The English translation of Tunku Abdul Rahman's Proclamation of Independence speech at Stadium Merdeka, 31st August, 1957.
Hari Malaysia Facebook page
Hari Malaysia Facebook Photo Gallery
The Tunku Abdul Rahman Archive Website
An online collection of writings about Tunku Abdul Rahman or writings by him.
Tunku's Great Ideas
A report released by The Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs entitled "Tunku's Great Ideas" (PDF).
IDEAS launches Malaysia Day Grant for Students
The Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs launches Malaysia Day Grant for students that hold activities in line with Tunku Abdul Rahman's declaration of Malaysia's founding principles.
The Tunku Abdul Rahman Graduate Scholarship
The Tunku Abdul Rahman Graduate Scolarship being offered by Tunku Abdul Rahman's alma mater, St. Catharine's College, Cambridge, UK.
REMEMBERING TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN'S LAST SPEECH
A BFM 89.9 radio piece on Tunku Abdul Rahman's last nationally broadcasted speech as Prime Minister of Malaysia.
Collection of Tunku's Speeches
Arkib Negara's collection of Tunku Abdul Rahman's speeches.
The Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Memorial
Information about The Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Memorial.
Roving Report: Project Malaysia
A newsreel from 1961 reporting on the Malaysia Plan.
MALAYAN FILM UNIT
Background into the Malayan Film Unit, the precursor to Malaysia's Filem Negara.
Tunku Abdul Rahman Foundation
Studio Voxel

Please tell your friends and family about this video. Please help us spread it. THANKS!!
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Please tell your friends and family about this video. Please help us spread it. THANKS!!
FacebooktwitterGoogle+EmailEmbed Code

"KEMBARA"

Written by Pete Teo & Amran Omar
Performed by Asmidar

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


"SLIPSTREAM"

Written by Pete Teo
Performed by Melina William

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.



HARI MALAYSIA