Synopsis
Rahim, a Malay-Muslim restaurant owner, falls for a circulating message in his community’s WhatsApp group regarding Lim, a Malaysian Chinese business owner who sells ingredients for cooking. His teenage daughter Hanis, however, questions the authenticity of the message, which was sent by a respectable figure among the community.
When Lim’s daughter May seeks temporary refuge at their home, Rahim learns how the disinformation campaign has led to cyberbullying of May at school. As he begins to empathize with Lim’s situation as a fellow father, Rahim himself becomes a target of false rumors about alleged business dealings with Lim. Troubled by the situation, May decides to return home. In the final scene, Lim comes to the restaurant to pick up May. Despite the earlier tension, Hanis joins her father in bidding farewell to her friend. May expresses her heartfelt gratitude to Rahim before leaving.
Director’s Profile
Intan Sakinah (23), from Penang, Malaysia, is a passionate storyteller and musician. She pursued a cinematic arts degree at Multimedia University, where she developed her filmmaking skills. Her first feature-length documentary, “Face-to-Phase,” was featured by Cult Creative in 2021, and two of her films were screened at Rantai Art Festival in 2023. Intan’s work focuses on people’s stories, local cultures, and interpersonal relationships in Southeast Asia. Growing up with an autistic brother, she is also a strong advocate for autism awareness. Her diverse interests, from fantasy writing to gamelan composition, inform her unique creative perspective and storytelling approach.
Director’s Statement
There is a critical issue that has not been adequately addressed: a potentially harmful racial division occurring on social media. While unresolved racial tension exists in Malaysia, the digital aspect is often overlooked. This problem is more pronounced with the sensitive 3R sentiment (Religion, Race, Royalty).
I would like to explore the spread of interracial disinformation in my film. For instance, there are viral posts urging Malay Muslims to boycott non-Muslim companies, and accusations that local non-Bumiputera products are non-halal, claiming their packaging is designed to deceive buyers into thinking they are Muslim-made.
As a Malay Muslim, I frequently encounter these posts, including in my family’s group chat. I believe this is a serious problem that requires intervention. As a youth filmmaker, I feel it is crucial for those of my generation to intervene and raise awareness about these issues and contribute to shaping a better Malaysia.
