Police blocked the screening of the movie “Gadoh” at Kampung Buah Pala tonight.
Dozens of police were at the kampung to stop the residents association from showing the movie in the open air along the main lane passing through the village on the grounds that it was an illegal gathering, the movie was controversial, and the event didn’t have a police permit.
The 70-minute movie, produced by media communications group Komas, “explores our perception of identity and challenges our hatred of the other”. Check out the trailer here.
From the Komas website:
Synopsis
Gadoh tells a story of a group of teenagers who fought each other along racial lines; a cycle of hatred and violence further escalated by their environment and school system.
What was to be a quick resolution to improve the school’s bad image, was taken as an opportunity for one teacher who believed that real change was possible. She ropes in the help of an old friend and reluctant maverick theater activist for this arduous task.
Is there hope amidst the cycle of discrimination that surrounds us?
Watch Gadoh for their story, and what it may very well tell us about ourselves.
Movie Info:
Duration: 70 mins
Director: Brenda Danker, Namron
Producer: Anna Har
Production Company: Big Pictures Productions
Supported by Pusat KOMAS
Starring: Namron, Nicholas Liew Davis, Zahiril Adzim, Amerul Affendi and Maya Tan Abdullah
Language: Bahasa Malaysia with English/BM subtitles
So far, the movie has been screened in Penang at D’Space (Weld Quay) and Disted College. It is also scheduled to be shown at USM on Wednesday night.
Kg Buah Pala is believed to be under close police surveillance ahead of a 2 August deadline for residents to vacate the premises in favour of a property developer. The Penang state government, however, has revoked the development order for the developer’s project on the site of the village.
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I would like to clarify that I am against any inappropriate and over-zealous unneccesary censorship of the arts in principle, because it goes against fundamental democratic freedoms.
So what I said about the burned DVD and DVD-players was a way to overcome that limiting constraint from any such questionable censorship imposed without any justification by relevant authorities of the Establishment in any country that calls itself a democratic one.
“Imagine Power To The People” John Lennon.
This time i have to agree with the police. Whoever wanted the this controversial movie to be shown must have a motive behind. It was definitely not for entertainment otherwise an Indian film would have been much a better choice. What were these people up to ? incited hatred ? Anil, looks like you are all for this huh ? Seems like you agree with everything that Kg Buah Pala residents do.
Have you seen the movie, feleaz? – Anil
Hello K, from yr answers above, u r only making wild guesses and merely speculating, worst still on the basis of what u hear. I would think the Police in Penang have been quite kind and accomodating to the protestors whether from Kg buah Pala or the MIC thus far. See, they were allowed even to shove their cows into the city (albiet for a short distance) creating traffic chaos and an MIC chap could even assault the DCM’s aide right in Komtar Govt Office itself. Try doing that in Perak or Putra Jaya. U suspect that LGE has direction… Read more »
romerz On the other hand, I do know exactly what is going on since I am involved in this issue and I do reside in Penang. LGE as the CM wields considerable powers and this includes all instituitions in Penang, be it they are directly under the state govt or otherwise. I do not have documentary evidence to show LGE directed the police to act agianst the villagers. But it doesnt take a rocket science to figure out who’s interests are being served by the police actions. Talk to Penang police officers off the record and they will tell you… Read more »
K
You could be one of those who sat next with the residents making baseless accusations without offering any solution. I suggest you crawl back to the hole you came from. You are irrational and cannot even make the distinction of issues.
K, Normally I don’t bother with people like you who rant and rave without understanding what is going on but just ranting and raving because you have an agenda to promote! For your information, the police our PDRM is a federal institution under the control of the federal BN government, the BN Home Ministry to be precise! If LGE and the state governments had any authority over PDRM at all, do you think that the fiasco which happened in the Perak Assembly would have happened? It is really worrying to see that in your anger about Kg Buah Pala, you… Read more »
d boys in blu r all-powerful
they can even ask then pm badawi 2 block ipcmc, or else…..
the rakyat cannot touch them as long as they do unowat 4 unohu
KK Lim
This is the problem with Pakatan leaders and supporters. Instead of solving the problem and helping the residents of KBP, you guys are demonising them.
It is really worrying to see “Either you are with us or agianst us” policy that is being adapted.
We voted for Pakatan hoping for a change but unfortunately as the day goes by, our trust and confidence in LGE’s administration is sagging and hitting the nadir.
Well well, the very people who fought for free expression and the freedom of assembly now talking about “police permit” and “public assembly”. Why such blatant double standard ? Is it because these people are from a poor, illiterate and marginilised section of the society ? Would people behave the same way if let’s say the police did the same thing to a group organising a memorial/candle light vigil to TBH ?? It becoming clearer that those proponents of civil society are merely supporters of political party rather than a genuine believers in democratic pinciples. LGE and Pakatan’s action in… Read more »
Hello K, do u have proof in alleging that LGE is using the PDRM to “repress and suppress” dissension n to “crush the spirit” of the residents of Kg Buah Pala ? Very strong words indeed. However, if u have no proof that LGE had used his power as CM to direct the police to do what they did (or what they r going to do), I would say u r just another of those agent provocateurs trying to forment hatred for the present Penang CM in particulat n the DAP in general. Very good try but Penangites are not… Read more »
On 2nd thought…..can any political party buy a whole kampung and collect rent like what MIC (plans to do with) KG Buah Pala.
Surprise….WHERE DID MIC SAMY GOT THE RM3.2 MILLION FROM TO BUY KG. BUAH PALA.IS IT THE INDIAN MONEY FROM MAIKA SHARES>. WE ARE NOT FALLING FOR THIS KIND OF CIRCUS FROM SAMY>
Dear Anil, I’ve been following only your website for latest info. From MSM today: the developer will ‘announce in a few days the offer to the villagers’ pending some local authority approval/verification. But we all know time is fast running out. I get a very bad feeling that the ppl of Kg Buah Pala will be played out, and I have a sinking desperate felling that the cops FRU etc are going to be very hard on them. In Ampang, UMNO can protest in big groups in public expressing support for MACC on the TBH case but in Penang, these… Read more »
Eh, since when the Penang police listens to LGE?
… in blue show arrogance all the way
the ppl r watching
change we must
or 4ever b under kgb-style regime
For those who blamed Pakatan’s govt in Penang, please be reminded that the s*** was caused by BN or Gerakan or Dr Koh becos he was the CM of Penang when the sale and purchase agreement was signed.
Sometimes I do wonder how can people or for this matter the Penang people can be so stupid for voting a BN govt for so… long years???
Anyway, they did wake up finally.
It seems our Polis Raja DiMalaysia is more interested in performing their dutys in dozens preventing petty issues & they dont seem to work effectively to bring down d rising crime rate in d state. I wonder when tis sort of Police working schedule is going to b revamped?…
When a notoriously inept polis (just look at the statistics) can judge that a “movie was controversial”, we know this country is going down the drain.
1 Black Malaysia. Democracy First. Elections Now.
Kenot do:-
1) wear kuning
2) wear merah
3) wear hitam
4) light candle
5) give flowers to our PM
6) sing Negaraku
7) say Altantuya
8) say Razak Beginda
Alamak!! Now watch movie also kenot.
thanks for the heads-up.
when will this stop? what is … suhakam doing? what happened to their hr training for police?
i agree with the police action to stop the screening of the movie… because of it being screen in a public open space without permit BUT not because of the movie itself being controversial (see it was screened in d’space and disted college without problem). anna brella is right… if the organiser of the screening wants the villagers to see the movie, why don’t they burn the CD for them instead of calling for publicity by screening it in the open, open to not villagers only but to all. these days we see so many ‘public’ events happening in kg… Read more »
It of often accused that the Police to be the enforcer arm of UMNO…however after 0308 I have revised my views… In Penang, it is clear that LGE has been (allegedly) using the Police to repress and suppress dissent and free expression while at the same time mouthing civil society idealism. Why do the police have to be so harsh and super sensitive to a bunch of poor and illiterate villagers ? Why there’s a need to treat those who fight on their behalf in a peaceful manner as criminals and thugs ? Why is LGE (allegedly) using the police… Read more »
Don’t tell me that screening the movie in the midst of this controvesy has no motive but is just to entertain the villages. Pathetic. Please dont insult our intelligence.
We would also like to remind the PDRM, MACC and Judiciary, they are all creations of the Constitution and hence, must abide by its laws. In other words, not any other law except what is being provided in the context of the Constitution. We witnessed:- 1. Police storming the Perak State Assembly with firearms and dragging Speaker Sivakumar like an animal out of the assembly hall as well as illegally detaining him for about 90 minutes on 7 May 2009. 2. On 27 July 2009, police denying Speaker Sivakumar and his Rights and Privileges Committee members entry into the Perak… Read more »
For that needed air-time, why not buy a DVD-player (not too expensive by now surely?) for each one of those KBP families (only 23 or so?)and ask them to watch a burned-DVD (again easy to do on a PC and legal too I believe if for private use only) of “Gadoh” in their own homes?
Happy to contribute to the KBP educational DVD-player or home PC fund. Happy also to chip in towards a DVD of that classic Gunfight at the O.K. Corral if need be for some added gumption. Smile.
“Imagine Power To The People” John Lennon.