The negative reviews of Tanda Putera have come from those who have not even seen the film. The May 13, 1969 racial riot in Kuala Lumpur as portrayed in this film is highly sanitised compared to the ground zero situation of 1969. It was meant to give a background as to why 2 Malaysian statesmen had to use clever states craft to re- stabilise the nation. The nation could have gone either way - stability restored or descend into untold turmoil. The 2 statesman put the national interests above their own health frailties. They toiled through the years following May 13 incident so that Malaysians could be reunited and the nation rebuilt from the destruction of such riots. Both statesman died in office, one of leukemia, the other of massive heart attack, after new policies at restructuring and developing Malaysia were put in place. It is one of the best Malay films ever produced.
Review of Tanda Putera
