After Mat Kilau Movie A Call For More Stories Of Past Warriors

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Law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said movies like ‘Mat Kilau’ could rake in millions in ticket sales. (GSC Facebook pic)PUTRAJAYA: In the wake of the success of the ‘Mat Kilau’ historical drama, the local film industry was urged today to focus on Malaysian history as well as the struggles of the past and present.
Law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said such a focus could help enhance value and diversity in arts and other related activities.
He said Finas, the national film corporation, could identify the critical historical moments and the struggles of warriors of the past that could be used as material to be turned into movies.
“It will be able to reflect the real situation of Malaysian society, whether in the era of self-administration, colonialism or communism,” he said in a statement today after meeting Finas chief executive Nasir Ibrahim.
The film Mat Kilau: Kebangkitan Pahlawan, produced by Studio Kembara Sdn Bhd, has achieved RM80 million in ticket sales.
Wan Junaidi described the film as a success story that could lift the country’s film industry to a higher level.
He called for Finas to provide detailed information on the needs of the industry, either for domestic development or to attract foreign investment so that the government and corporate bodies could help develop the arts industry.
“Local corporate entities should rise to the occasion,” he said. “I also hope the government will diversify its assistance to include the construction of infrastructure and tax schemes that are attractive to industry players, such as tax exemptions and reduction of high entertainment tax rates by state governments and local authorities”.
Wan Junaidi also felt that the government should exempt taxes for foreign investors to attract more international production houses to choose Malaysia as the main location for filming and infrastructure investment.
“Government agencies can play a role in facilitating production to attract foreign film companies to come to Malaysia to produce films and invest.
“It will be able to generate income and strengthen cooperation between local and international players,” he said. - FMT

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