KUALA LUMPUR – The local release of Man on the Run, an investigative documentary shedding light on the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal, became a reality in Malaysia thanks to political changes brought about by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership.
Speaking at a press conference following a media screening of the film, its director, Cassius Michael Kim, candidly admitted to initial concerns about its release on the silver screen in the country.
“The recent changes in government here have presented more welcoming conditions for the film itself.
“I don’t know if (the movie’s release in Malaysia) would have been possible without the change of government,” he said after the screening held at Golden Screen Cinema (GSC) in Mid Valley Megamall, here, yesterday evening.
He added that it would be “impossible to speculate” on the fate of the local release if Anwar was not prime minister.
Kim also expressed his satisfaction that the film, which includes an interview with Anwar prior to his appointment as prime minister, is consistent with versions released in other countries.
Asked whether the production team had hit any roadblocks with the Malaysian Film Censorship Board, producer Fabian W. Joseph said this was not the case, as attempts to acquire approval for the film’s screening were unhindered.
“We went through the standard processes and made our application as per normal. There were no objections, and we were honestly quite surprised,” Joseph said.
“We came in thinking that we wouldn’t be able to show this movie in (local) cinemas at all, but surprisingly, we’re here, and people got to see it. Maybe this is a reflection of the change happening in Malaysia.”
Joseph believes that the lack of obstacles from government authorities might be due to the film’s intention not to tarnish Malaysia’s reputation. He stressed that the movie’s primary goal was “to tell a story of the people”.
“It’s important to acknowledge that we’re not here to make Malaysia look bad. We’re here to tell a story that happened to Malaysians, the scar (from the 1MDB scandal) already exists. That’s why we didn’t face any problems,” he said.
“We reached out to everyone that partook or was involved in the (1MDB) scandal in some way, whether they were mentioned in court cases or part of law enforcement.”
Besides Anwar, the movie also features a brief interview with disgraced former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence over criminal breach of trust, abuse of power, and money laundering charges involving SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former subsidiary of 1MDB.
The film, which will make its debut in local cinemas tomorrow (October 19), lays bare how government and corporate figures, with the aid of fugitive Penang-born businessman Low Taek Jho, squandered billions of ringgit from sovereign wealth fund 1MDB for their own personal gain.
The documentary delves into the significant role played by Low in the alleged corruption at the heart of the misappropriation of funds from 1MDB, an initiative established by Najib in 2009 to alleviate poverty. – October 18, 2023