Documentary filmmaker Ahmad Yazid retells the independence struggle with research done at NSTP’s huge archive and interviews with pertinent personalities. Dennis Chua writes
THE struggle for Malaya’s independence did not come on a silver platter. Freedom fighters such as Datuk Onn Jaafar, Tun Tan Cheng Lock and Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra made lots of sacrifices — selling their properties and fleeing Communist guerillas — to unite Malayans and demand for independence from the British.
To avoid capture by the Japanese invaders, Cheng Lock had to retreat to British-ruled India during World War II, as the new masters had placed him on their “most wanted” list.
These interesting, but lesser known historical nuggets will enlighten Malaysians when they view documentary filmmaker Ahmad Yazid Ahmad Puad’s latest project, Road To Nationhood, slated to air on Sunday at 10pm on History HD (Astro 575), History SD (555), Astro Prima (105) and Astro Maya HD (135).
This two-hour documentary, which relives Malaya’s journey to independence, uses cutting-edge visual effects which make historical photographs of statesmen appear three-dimensional.
Road To Nationhood, which was produced within a year by Rack Focus Films, also uses archive footage which has never been broadcast on television. Ahmad Yazid and fellow executive producer Rob Nevis have brought this footage to life.
“It features personal and political perspectives of the struggles of the above leaders, and is inspired by the rich historical content derived from the New Straits Times Press Group Publications book of the same name.
“I came across this book in the resource centre of Balai Berita in late 2013, and after reading it, it inspired me to make a documentary,” says Ahmad Yazid.
MILITARY HISTORY
Nevis says they conducted interviews with former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, former Cabinet Minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, writers Datin Paduka Tan Siok Choo (Cheng Lok’s granddaughter) and Zainah Anwar (a family friend of Onn Jaafar’s son, former Prime Minister Tun Hussein Onn), as well as British historian A.J. Stockwell, among others.
“They have worked with, or have personally known the independence leaders, and have given us brilliant recollections of their patriotic mission.”
Ahmad Yazid finds most interesting his interview with former Armed Forces chief Jen (Rtd) Tan Sri Ghazali Seth. Ghazali told him that his father Datuk Seth Said was part of the Merdeka Mission to London in 1956.
Ahmad Yazid says his passion for making historical movies was fuelled by his father, a videographer. “I picked up a liking for old photographs from him, and this led to an appreciation of historical films.”
A fan of Malaya’s and Malaysia’s military history, he says: “While military history is fun, I also became interested in the struggle for Merdeka, and how the leaders of various races got together to fight for independence from Britain in the 1950s.
“I learnt that the independence struggle was not merely led by the Alliance Party comprising Umno, MCA and MIC, but there were other important players such as the Malay Nationalist Party.”
Ahmad Yazid made the documentary to highlight how the individuals who chose a peaceful road to independence triumphed over the Communists, who took the path of violence and created terror in the countryside.
“British historian Stockwell was very helpful in providing us with information about that period. What I’ve learnt from him is that Britain finally decided to give Malaya its independence after the leaders of all the main races came together.”
IMPRESSIVE BIOGRAPHY
Road To Nationhood required more than 40 interviews, and lots of travelling. Ahmad went to London and also obtained historical footage of developments related to Malayan independence, from the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.
Eight news agencies provided Ahmad with materials for the film. The footage amounted to RM200,000, a quarter of the film’s total cost.
“The National Film Development Corporation (Finas) has been very cooperative. It helped fund 40 per cent of the film.”
Road To Nationhood also features some reenacted scenes, such as the assassination of British High Commissioner to Malaya, Sir Henry Gurney, at Fraser’s Hill in 1953.
Ahmad Yazid’s best known documentary on the History channel has been about the arms heist by terrorist group Al-Maunah in 2000.
Ahmad Yazid conducted countless interviews, but regrets being unable to interview Onn Jaafar’s grandson, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.
“It would have been great to interview the grandson of the man who united the Malay community and helped bring forth the Federation of Malaya. Nevertheless, Zainah helped us greatly as she wrote an impressive biography of Onn Jaafar and Hussein titled Legacy Of Honour a few years ago, with the support of Hishammuddin.”
He also regrets not focusing much on the role of Malayan women in the independence struggle. “Time was the main inhibiting factor. I had to create a two-hour production, and thus, I had to leave out a lot of interesting topics and focus on the essential facts.”
Road To Nationhood may not satisfy every Malaysian, because it is a story that is told from Ahmad Yazid’s perspective, a filmmaker who focuses on the key players of the independence struggle.
“The film forms 10 per cent of all the research I did, and the rest will be used for future documentary films.”
Ahmad says his next documentary will be the second part of Road To Nationhood. It will be aired next year and focuses on the formation of Malaysia in 1963.
“I’m going to focus on the independence leaders of Singapore, Sarawak and Sabah, and the reasons why they agreed to merge with Malaya. We will also touch on the issues leading to Singapore’s separation from Malaysia in 1965.”
INDIVIDUAL PERSPECTIVES
New Straits Times Press executive editor for special projects Azizi Othman says Road To Nationhood is a suitable book to be made into a documentary as it contains original material from the company’s vast archive.
“It brings to life lots of seldom-seen historical photographs from our resource centre, assets which we have had since 1845. Factual documentaries have always been our strength, and we are happy to work with Ahmad Yazid, Nevis and their dynamic team to create this informative film on time for National Day and Malaysia Day 2016.”
He says Ahmad Yazid and Nevis credited NSTP in the film, and complemented its archive materials with individual perspectives of the independence struggle.
The film was launched by Ahmad, Nevis and Azizi at the Content Malaysia Pitching Centre, Platinum Sentral in KL Sentral, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur on Aug 18.
Also present were NSTP resource centre manager Ramlan Ramli, the film’s narrator Chacko Vadaketh, former Court of Appeal judge Tan Sri V.C. George, Ghazali and Siok Choo.