- 6/4/2025
Actor, director, and FINAS Chairman Dato’ Hans Isaac breaks down what’s really holding Malaysian cinema back
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00:00You don't really need to be talented to be popular today.
00:03That's the reality of it.
00:04In the multiple positions that you're in,
00:06you are open to criticism.
00:08It goes without saying, right?
00:10I think I know where you're going.
00:11Censorship is not under Finas and KKMN.
00:14Censorship board is under KDN,
00:15Kementerian Dalam Negeri.
00:16So it's not under our authority.
00:18But do you have a say?
00:19No.
00:20So no seat at the table?
00:21From Finas, no.
00:22Let's hear your personal opinion of this as a creative.
00:24I think Finas should be on that panel.
00:30Another episode of Life Confessions
00:35with another amazing guest joining us.
00:38Someone who has worn so many hats
00:40and currently wears multiple hats at the same time as well.
00:44Dato Hans Isaac joins us today.
00:48Welcome, sir.
00:49Welcome, Dary.
00:50Thank you for having me.
00:51I didn't even know how to introduce you
00:53because first of all, you do wear multiple hats.
00:56You're chairman of Finas.
00:57Many people still remember you as an actor.
00:59You've been a director.
01:00You've been a writer as well.
01:01When someone asks you what you do,
01:03what do you tell them now?
01:04I say I have multiple jobs.
01:07Every day is a different day.
01:09But obviously, I have to prioritize the job function as well.
01:16I'll put the most important one as the first priority
01:19and currently is the chairman of Finas
01:20at this point today.
01:23And obviously, I'm a businessman as well.
01:25I'm a politician as well.
01:26You know, I was in the creative industry for over 30 years.
01:31You know what I mean?
01:31I started very young.
01:33Yeah.
01:34And even with businesses,
01:36I have multiple businesses that people don't know.
01:38So people just assume me before as an actor.
01:41But when I was 22 years old,
01:42I owned my first company.
01:44I built my first company.
01:45What was that company?
01:46It was called Red Hot Entertainment.
01:47It was an entertainment company.
01:49Invested a bit of money in it and built it.
01:51Wow.
01:51And I felt that company couldn't grow anymore
01:53and I sold my shares and built another company.
01:55Right.
01:55Built another company and I had multiple companies.
01:57So when people ask you what you do,
01:59the answer is everything.
02:00Everything.
02:01Everything.
02:01So I was on a set.
02:01I was always working for my businesses.
02:04Right.
02:04Right.
02:05You know, let's go back a little bit actually
02:06because, you know,
02:07you've had a long successful career in film initially.
02:11In fact, to this day,
02:12what made you decide to walk away from primarily acting
02:15more than two decades ago?
02:18Was there like a breaking point?
02:20There was.
02:20There were two points I would share.
02:22One was,
02:23I was on a film set with a director,
02:25a buddy of mine,
02:26you know what I mean?
02:26And we've worked many times together
02:28and I said to him,
02:29we did some scenes and everything
02:30and I felt I couldn't give my best
02:33for the character and the production
02:36and for him.
02:37And I felt really bad
02:38because my mindset wasn't there.
02:41But I tried to push it
02:42and then I finished off the production
02:44and then I took another production
02:45because I was always fully booked.
02:46I worked literally, you know,
02:4890% of the year
02:49for about 20 years.
02:51You know what I mean?
02:52I was something that was two productions
02:53at the same time.
02:54Sometimes I was doing a film in the daytime
02:55and a musical production,
02:57a theatre production at night.
02:59So the schedule was quite mad.
03:00Sometimes I was in a country promoting,
03:02I've been in three countries in one day
03:03and I didn't know which country I was in.
03:06Was that because you felt you needed to keep busy?
03:08I was burned out, number one.
03:09Number two is,
03:10I was saying lines that I was saying
03:12too many times in the characters.
03:13So I felt the scripts won't push in me anymore.
03:15So that was more the creative aspect
03:17of why I said, you know,
03:18I need a change.
03:21The second part was when I was appointed
03:22by Gobin, the minister at that time,
03:25five years ago as chairman.
03:26And I was appointed as an industry player.
03:29I was not a politician.
03:30It was about five, six years ago.
03:32And then obviously,
03:34after a certain time of a year,
03:37we all got ousted
03:38because of the Sheraton move
03:39and government fell.
03:40And obviously,
03:41even we weren't politicians,
03:42we were all ousted by the seats.
03:44And the incoming government
03:46took over all the government
03:47GLC positions.
03:48So I couldn't obviously
03:50do what I needed to do.
03:53You know what I mean?
03:54And I decided, you know what?
03:56I'm going to change my career path.
03:59And I was going to be a politician.
04:01And the reason I was a politician was,
04:02we used to complain about Malaysia so much.
04:04We complained about the ministers
04:05and the people who are leading the country.
04:07And we were saying,
04:09oh, useless, you know,
04:10complain, complain, complain.
04:11As rakyat, we complain.
04:12Sit in the garage,
04:12complain, complain, complain, complain.
04:13But we never took initiative.
04:15We were just complaining.
04:16Rakyat yang complain.
04:17But we never took the initiative
04:19to lead the country.
04:20So a few friends of mine decided,
04:22we're going to take lead on this.
04:24You know what I mean?
04:24And that's how I got into politics.
04:27When you look back now
04:28and you realize where you are now,
04:30does it feel real already?
04:32Or when did it start feeling real?
04:34I think number one is,
04:36I believe in Anwar Ibrahim.
04:38I believe that he needed his shout.
04:40I think he needed his time
04:41to prove his capabilities.
04:43You know?
04:44And obviously,
04:45the country was in a certain state
04:48that I think one term
04:49was not enough for him.
04:51And a prime minister would need
04:52probably two terms
04:52to basically put the country in line.
04:55So me and a few friends decided,
04:57this is the man we're going to back.
04:59Right, right.
04:59You know?
05:01And things have happened,
05:03you know?
05:03I mean, after that,
05:04I mean,
05:04we don't ask for positions.
05:05We don't,
05:06you know,
05:07we're not there in the party
05:08for position.
05:08We're there to participate
05:09and support the party
05:11and the country.
05:12They say that a great leader
05:13creates great leaders.
05:16You know,
05:16that's what some people believe.
05:18You yourself now
05:19hold significant leadership positions.
05:21Not just one,
05:22but positions.
05:23What personal growth experiences
05:25have been most impactful
05:26to you in this journey of yours?
05:28The current journey
05:29or my whole life journey?
05:30Which part?
05:31You can choose.
05:32Tell us which one
05:33is most significant.
05:33I think it's a first thing,
05:35you have to have a foundation.
05:37A foundation about people,
05:38about family,
05:39about relationships.
05:40Right.
05:41I think that's very important
05:41to understand people first.
05:43Right.
05:44When I was younger,
05:45I was a talker.
05:46And I,
05:47now,
05:47I mean,
05:47we're doing an interview,
05:48I have to talk.
05:48I can't keep quiet,
05:49you know,
05:49right now,
05:50but.
05:50Please do.
05:51Please do keep talking.
05:52Yeah.
05:52But when we meet people,
05:54it's time to listen.
05:55So it's more listening power
05:56than actually speaking.
05:58So I had to change that.
05:59As an actor,
06:00it was all about Hans Isaac.
06:01Everywhere I went,
06:01it's Hans,
06:02Hans,
06:02Hans.
06:02Picture,
06:03photograph,
06:03autograph,
06:04whatever.
06:04People wanted me to be
06:05left,
06:05right,
06:06center.
06:06But being a politician,
06:08it reverses that.
06:10Actually,
06:10if you're a true politician,
06:11it grounds you totally.
06:13You need a lot of patience
06:15and you need to put a lot
06:17of tension into people.
06:18Right.
06:18Yeah.
06:19And is that the difference
06:20you feel now,
06:20that you've had to change roles,
06:23so to speak?
06:24I think it's matured me
06:25tremendously.
06:26I think it's,
06:28you know,
06:29men are always boys.
06:31You know,
06:32men are always boys,
06:33you know.
06:33But I realize
06:34when you get into politics
06:35and dealing with people,
06:37you can't have that
06:38boy character anymore.
06:40You've literally
06:41got to mature,
06:42you know.
06:42It's interesting
06:42that you say that
06:44because,
06:44like,
06:45in anyone's life,
06:47the death
06:48or loss
06:49of a loved one
06:50can bring about
06:50a lot of change.
06:52And when you lose someone
06:53as a public figure,
06:54someone who
06:55is out there,
06:56in the open
06:57with so many people
06:58wanting to
06:59be there for you,
07:01do you feel like
07:01being in the public eye
07:03and losing someone,
07:04it's different,
07:05you grieve differently?
07:07I think you do,
07:08but I had a lot of support.
07:09I had a lot of good friends,
07:10good people.
07:11When my mom
07:12and dad passed away,
07:14and I,
07:14you know,
07:14obviously we're Roman Catholics
07:15in church,
07:16when I turned around,
07:17I was obviously in the front row,
07:18when I turned around
07:18and looked in the church,
07:19there were all my Muslim friends,
07:21Chinese friends,
07:22Indian friends,
07:23they were all there for me.
07:24The church was packed
07:25with people,
07:26and that really,
07:27I was like shocked,
07:28you know what I mean?
07:29My Muslim friends
07:29would walk into church
07:30because of me,
07:31you know what I mean?
07:32I walk into a mosque
07:33and I have buried
07:34Muslim friends,
07:35I have buried their parents
07:36and helped them,
07:37I have mandi jenazah
07:39as well and helped them,
07:40you know,
07:40with permission from the family.
07:41Right.
07:42I know how to bury
07:43a Muslim person,
07:45you know what I mean?
07:46And I think that's
07:47the culture we have in Malaysia.
07:49We're always supportive,
07:51you know,
07:51the unity is there.
07:52Just a fraction of people
07:53in Malaysia
07:53that try to break this.
07:55Right.
07:55And that's what we don't want.
07:56It's interesting to note that,
07:58like you said,
07:59in this country,
08:00we are so united
08:02in so many ways
08:03across so many lines
08:05that are drawn,
08:06but also there are people
08:08who choose
08:09to see the differences,
08:10right?
08:10Just share a quick story.
08:11You know,
08:13PMX,
08:13every time he meets us
08:14and, you know,
08:15I don't know why
08:15he keeps saying this to me.
08:16Hans,
08:17do me a favor.
08:18Go out there
08:19and unite the people.
08:20He goes to a few
08:21of our individuals
08:21in meetings,
08:22in our high council meetings.
08:23We need to unite the people.
08:25We need to unite the people.
08:26You know,
08:27be that soldier
08:27to unite the people,
08:29you know.
08:29I mean,
08:29that's what he wants.
08:30His vision is about
08:31uniting us,
08:32irrelevant of race,
08:34religion and so on,
08:34you know.
08:35Yeah.
08:35We definitely want to
08:36find out more
08:37about the role
08:39that you've been playing
08:40in politics
08:43and how entertainment
08:45has perhaps
08:47helped
08:48or not
08:50in this journey
08:51of yours.
08:52But as someone
08:52who's been both
08:53in front and behind
08:54the camera,
08:55what's the biggest
08:56misconception people
08:57have about
08:58the Malaysian
08:59entertainment industry,
09:00do you think?
09:01I think you think
09:02that everybody's,
09:03the way they carry
09:04themselves in public eyes
09:05that everybody's
09:06a superstar.
09:07They have all the money
09:08in the world.
09:09They have all the success
09:10in the world.
09:10I disagree.
09:12You know,
09:13I've been through
09:13tough times,
09:14you know,
09:15not even to be able
09:15to fill up my
09:16motorbike gas,
09:19you know,
09:19thinking of where
09:19I'm going to get
09:20money to eat tomorrow.
09:21I've been through
09:22that as an actor.
09:22You know,
09:23we went through
09:24a lot of
09:26hard times,
09:27you know,
09:28and it's not that easy.
09:31Right.
09:32People don't see
09:32this side.
09:33I don't see an actor
09:34in Malaysia.
09:35A lot of them,
09:36anywhere around
09:36the world sometimes,
09:38you know,
09:38you're hidden behind
09:38your sunglasses.
09:40You know,
09:41to me,
09:42a superstar or a star
09:43or a celebrity
09:44or a talent
09:45doesn't have to hide
09:46behind your sunglasses.
09:47You can't be still real
09:48by looking at people,
09:49you know,
09:49why are you hiding
09:50from the people
09:50that support you?
09:51Right,
09:51right.
09:52Interesting that,
09:53and you're still very much
09:54in the industry still,
09:55actually,
09:55because you make
09:56appearances,
09:56right?
09:57I do,
09:57but more on the
09:58chairman of FINA's
09:59basis,
10:00you know,
10:00to support industry.
10:02I've just finished
10:02a production in
10:03New Zealand
10:05in October
10:06and it's out in
10:07May in Singapore.
10:08What's that about?
10:08A series called
10:10Korban.
10:12I can't say much
10:13about it,
10:13to be honest,
10:14until we launched
10:14in,
10:15I think,
10:15May 27th.
10:16It was a nice
10:17production to be
10:18part of,
10:19you know.
10:19You know,
10:20with global audiences
10:21opening up to
10:22Asian content,
10:23we've seen a lot
10:23of this happen.
10:24Why do you think
10:24Malaysian films
10:26haven't had quite
10:27made that major
10:28international breakthrough
10:29like perhaps films
10:31from Korea
10:31or Thailand?
10:33Yeah,
10:33is there a reason
10:34for this?
10:35The first thing
10:36I did coming back
10:37to Finas
10:37for my second term.
10:39I'm the first
10:40chairman to come in
10:40twice in the
10:42history of Finas.
10:44And my statement
10:45was,
10:46I think we shouldn't
10:48be looking at
10:48this 30-year,
10:49I don't know how
10:50long it is,
10:50many,
10:51many years of us
10:51going road to Oscar.
10:53This road to Oscar
10:54to me doesn't
10:55fulfill our needs.
10:57Right.
10:57I think we have to
10:58look at the road
10:58to Asia.
11:00If you conquer
11:01Asia,
11:02then your film
11:03can conquer
11:04anywhere else
11:04around the world.
11:05If you can't
11:06even conquer
11:06your side
11:08of the globe,
11:10how are you
11:11going to conquer
11:11everyone else
11:12around the world?
11:13The stories
11:13that we have
11:14currently is
11:15very commercialized.
11:17I think
11:18we have a
11:19commercial value
11:20of films in
11:20Malaysia,
11:21and then obviously
11:21we have the
11:21very arty films
11:22of Malaysia.
11:24I believe a story
11:25that can travel
11:26out there
11:26is always human
11:27stories about
11:28hardships of people,
11:31success stories
11:31when they are
11:32in the worst
11:32of their conditions
11:33and they make
11:33something that
11:34turn around
11:35for other people
11:36to learn from.
11:38Human stories.
11:39When I built
11:39my musical theaters,
11:41I never bought
11:42content that was
11:43international,
11:44you know,
11:44copyrights were
11:45international.
11:45I would write
11:46stories about
11:47Latt,
11:49kampung boy
11:49building a career,
11:51and the whole
11:52world knows who
11:52he is.
11:53Bogta Dahari,
11:54a legend footballer
11:55who is top
11:57scorer in the
11:58world,
11:58top three,
11:59you know.
12:00My story is
12:01about four guys
12:02cleaning the
12:03KLCC window
12:04cleaners,
12:05you know.
12:05Right.
12:06They are both
12:06very local
12:07in terms of
12:08the flavor,
12:10but yet the
12:10message is still
12:11one that
12:12anyone can
12:13understand.
12:13You can place
12:14that story in
12:15any country
12:15and they will
12:16understand it.
12:17Right.
12:18So you have to
12:18have a more
12:19international
12:19storyline base.
12:21I'm not
12:21international
12:22storyline,
12:22the arc,
12:23the arc of
12:24the story.
12:24Right.
12:25But how do
12:26we do that?
12:26How do we
12:26bridge that gap
12:27between high
12:28profile productions
12:29and lesser
12:30known grassroots
12:30creators who
12:32lack the
12:32access but
12:33have talent?
12:34Sometimes you
12:35can see a
12:35great script,
12:36but how does
12:37that get the
12:39light of day?
12:39How do you
12:40get off the
12:41day?
12:41Number one is
12:41you've got to
12:41raise your
12:42money,
12:42your funding.
12:43The problem
12:43with the
12:43funding is
12:44people make
12:45their funding,
12:46they make
12:46their script,
12:46they make
12:47their movie,
12:47and they make
12:48the money up
12:48front.
12:49They're not
12:49thinking about
12:50the business
12:50plan of cinema.
12:51They're not
12:52thinking about
12:52the business
12:52plan of the
12:53script.
12:54You're going
12:54to be a
12:54one-shot
12:55wonder or you
12:55want to be a
12:56multiple
12:56filmmaker.
12:57Right.
12:58You make a
12:59film that
12:59goes to the
13:00cinema,
13:00but four
13:00people are
13:01sitting there
13:01or you're
13:01going to
13:01make a
13:02film that's
13:02full house
13:03or even
13:03half.
13:04You can't
13:05make a
13:05film that
13:05people are
13:06not watching.
13:07To me,
13:07it's not a
13:07film anymore.
13:08You make a
13:09film because
13:09people watch
13:10the film,
13:11then it's a
13:11successful story.
13:12Are some
13:13of us
13:13misunderstanding
13:14what the
13:15Malaysian
13:16audience wants?
13:17Because it's
13:17been said over
13:18and over again
13:19that if you
13:19want to make
13:19money with a
13:20Malaysian film,
13:21it needs to
13:21be one of
13:22three things,
13:22which is either
13:23a romantic
13:24movie, a
13:25comedy, or a
13:26horror movie,
13:26and if you
13:26combine all
13:27three, you've
13:27got...
13:28No, I
13:28disagree to be
13:29honest.
13:29It's a
13:29seasonal thing.
13:30It's a
13:31seasonal thing
13:32in our
13:32market.
13:32Now it's
13:33action and
13:33all this
13:34stuff.
13:34Gangster movies,
13:35action.
13:36At one point
13:37it was Army,
13:37Navy, before
13:40it was rom-coms,
13:41then it was
13:41hantu stories.
13:43This trend
13:43will continue
13:44to evolve in
13:46that sense.
13:47It's just that
13:48do you know
13:48what the
13:48market's going
13:49to accept in
13:49the next year
13:50and a half?
13:51Because it
13:51takes a year
13:51over to make
13:52your movie.
13:52From writing
13:53your script to
13:54getting out to
13:54Wajib Tayang,
13:55getting your
13:56it takes one
13:57year.
13:58To get your
13:59money back
13:59takes probably
14:00two years.
14:01So to make
14:02it as quickly
14:02as possible
14:03to stay
14:03relevant...
14:04Relevant at
14:04the point
14:05when you
14:05release the
14:06film.
14:06Right, right.
14:07And how
14:08do you plan
14:10for that?
14:11I do not
14:12know.
14:13I do not
14:15know.
14:15Nobody has
14:15the answer.
14:16It's a very
14:16tough one.
14:17What's your
14:18honest take
14:18on the next
14:19generation of
14:20Malaysian
14:20filmmakers?
14:21Are they
14:21pushing
14:22boundaries or
14:23do they think
14:23they still
14:24need to play
14:25it safe?
14:25I don't
14:26think they're
14:27playing it
14:27safe.
14:27I think
14:28even with
14:28the way
14:29the younger
14:30generation
14:30shoot film
14:31on their
14:32phones,
14:33short films
14:34and so on,
14:35they're actually
14:35crossing boundaries
14:36in that sense
14:36already.
14:37But doing
14:38a one,
14:39two minute
14:39short film
14:40on a
14:41platform
14:41and putting
14:42out a full
14:43120 minute
14:44film in the
14:44cinema,
14:45it's very
14:46different.
14:47The arc
14:49of the story
14:49is different.
14:51Your concept
14:52will probably
14:52be different.
14:53storytelling is
14:54obviously the
14:55storytelling to
14:56keep someone
14:56entertained for
14:57an hour and
14:5820 minutes,
14:59it's not easy.
15:00And do you
15:01think the issue
15:02lies perhaps in
15:03how some people
15:04think they can
15:05do it,
15:06even though they
15:06may not have
15:07the skills to
15:08base on their
15:09popularity on
15:09social media
15:10creating these
15:11short films,
15:12they may have
15:13developed some
15:13skill there,
15:14but to make
15:14that leap,
15:15how do we
15:16help them?
15:17Times are very
15:18different.
15:18Times are very
15:19different because
15:19before you need
15:21talent to make
15:22it industry,
15:22you need a
15:23package,
15:23you need
15:23talent,
15:24you have to
15:24go out and
15:24cast,
15:25a reporter
15:26calls you,
15:27you go to
15:28the publisher
15:28and do the
15:29interview,
15:30they don't
15:30come to you.
15:31Today it's
15:31very different.
15:32You know what
15:32I mean?
15:33People make
15:33money off their
15:34platforms of
15:34content,
15:35you know what
15:35I mean?
15:36You don't
15:37really need to
15:37be talented
15:38to be popular
15:39today.
15:40That's the
15:40reality of it.
15:41You bring up
15:42a good point
15:42by saying that
15:43because one
15:43of the issues
15:44that has been
15:45brought up over
15:45and over again
15:46by especially
15:47veteran actors
15:48and actresses
15:49is they feel
15:50undervalued
15:51because the
15:53following that
15:54they have
15:54on Instagram
15:55or on social
15:56media seems
15:57to supersede
15:58a person's
15:59talent at
15:59this point.
16:00I agree 100%.
16:01How do we
16:03deal with this?
16:04You can't deal
16:04with it because
16:05times have
16:05evolved,
16:06it's changed.
16:07So from
16:09our perspective
16:09in Finas
16:10basically,
16:11I think yesterday
16:12in the town
16:12hall,
16:12we had a
16:13town hall,
16:13it's a very
16:13successful one,
16:14I think.
16:18Minister
16:18Wai Bi
16:19Dr. Fahmi,
16:21he actually
16:21said,
16:22Hans,
16:22we've got to
16:23come up
16:23with something
16:23for the
16:23veterans,
16:24come up
16:24with a
16:24program
16:25for the
16:25veterans.
16:26We hold
16:27the license,
16:27so maybe
16:28we'll look
16:28at a
16:28percentage
16:29of veteran
16:29actors
16:30being paid
16:31properly
16:32rather than
16:32being paying
16:33peanuts.
16:34You know what
16:34I mean?
16:35We're not
16:36talking about
16:36hundreds of
16:37thousands of
16:37dollars,
16:38we're talking
16:38about they're
16:39getting paid.
16:39I don't even
16:40want to mention
16:40the pricing
16:41numbers on how
16:42they get paid
16:43today.
16:43When I was
16:44a director,
16:45and I used
16:45to call a
16:46veteran actor,
16:46I would pay
16:47them equally
16:47as a
16:49current actor
16:50would get.
16:51And literally,
16:52when I asked
16:52them,
16:53the production
16:53manager asked,
16:54how much is
16:54your fee
16:55for today's
16:55shoot?
16:56What's the
16:57fee?
16:57What's the
16:59husband
16:59has given?
17:00Okay.
17:01And I was
17:02like,
17:02no,
17:02no,
17:02there's no
17:02okay,
17:03we need to
17:03know what
17:04we're paying
17:04this person.
17:04And they
17:05will not
17:06ask for a
17:06single dollar.
17:07Wow.
17:08So I
17:08will make
17:09sure that
17:09they got
17:09paid for
17:10that day
17:11like no one
17:12would have
17:13paid them.
17:14And they
17:14would literally
17:15be crying
17:15receiving that
17:16money.
17:18We need
17:18more champions
17:19like you.
17:20Yeah.
17:21But a lot
17:21of people
17:21think profit.
17:24I don't
17:24think profit.
17:25I think
17:26people are
17:26the profit.
17:27I think
17:27investing in
17:28people are
17:28the profit.
17:29profit.
17:30Being the
17:31chairman of
17:31Finanis now,
17:32does that
17:32put you in
17:33a position
17:33to affect
17:35change?
17:36It does
17:36in terms of
17:37policy-wise.
17:38But in
17:38terms of
17:38funding,
17:39I have no
17:39authority over
17:40the funding.
17:41The funding
17:41comes by a
17:42panel,
17:42by KKMM.
17:44It comes
17:44from the
17:45Jautang Kwasas
17:46from various
17:47areas to
17:48decide who
17:49gets the
17:49money,
17:50who gets
17:50the grants
17:50and so on.
17:52Even with
17:52our FIMI
17:53fund,
17:53which is a
17:54wonderful
17:54program we
17:56have,
17:56filming in
17:57Malaysia
17:58incentive,
17:58fee.
17:59But we
18:01have grants
18:01which is
18:02Dana DKK,
18:04Kandunga Creative,
18:04Dana Kandunga Creative,
18:05and that's
18:06basically where
18:06the youth
18:06come in.
18:07They come in
18:07from script
18:08level,
18:08they can go
18:09to marketing
18:09level,
18:10they can go
18:10to production
18:10level.
18:12Post-production
18:12we have
18:12facilities.
18:13A lot of
18:13people don't
18:14realize that
18:14FIMI has
18:15international
18:16facilities.
18:17Oh,
18:17we do.
18:18If you come
18:18in and see,
18:19the building
18:19may look old
18:19from the
18:20outside,
18:20but when
18:20you go in,
18:21we have
18:21good quality
18:22equipment.
18:23Are you
18:23optimistic
18:23looking at
18:24the new
18:25vanguard of
18:28talent that
18:29you've seen?
18:30Talent will
18:31come and
18:31go.
18:32The question
18:33is when you
18:33spot a
18:34talent that
18:34can make
18:35a massive
18:36impact for
18:36the country,
18:37for the
18:37industry,
18:38those are
18:38the ones
18:38you really
18:39need to
18:39save.
18:40It's very
18:41difficult to
18:41save everyone.
18:42I must
18:42say,
18:43it's very
18:43difficult.
18:44Policies don't
18:45save everyone.
18:47Who can
18:47become an
18:48actor?
18:48Anyone.
18:50The credibility
18:50of the actor,
18:51the documentation
18:52of the actor
18:52is none.
18:53In the
18:55U.S.,
18:55I think,
18:55was it
18:55the U.K.,
18:56it's
18:56Actors Guild.
18:57You can't
18:58even participate
18:58in a
18:58production
18:59unless you
18:59hold the
18:59Actors Guild
19:00license.
19:02Do we
19:03want to
19:03do that?
19:03We have
19:04formed
19:05Gafima.
19:06We have
19:07about 20
19:07associations
19:08from various
19:09segments of
19:10the industry.
19:11We have
19:12combined them
19:12under one
19:13platform,
19:14one umbrella
19:14called
19:14Gafima.
19:15And Finas
19:16will deal
19:17with Gafima
19:17from the
19:19FDM,
19:19which is the
19:20Film Directors
19:21Association,
19:22Cinema,
19:23the Actors
19:23Association,
19:24PFM,
19:25the Producers
19:26Association.
19:27So we've
19:27gathered all
19:28of them
19:28into one
19:29roof,
19:30one platform.
19:31Now,
19:31how this
19:32funding is
19:32going to
19:32work,
19:32I can't
19:33share with
19:33you,
19:33but we
19:33already have
19:34an idea
19:34how we're
19:35going to
19:35do this.
19:36So we'll
19:36look forward
19:37to seeing
19:38this.
19:39Now,
19:40based on
19:40everything you've
19:41said so far,
19:42you're no
19:42stranger to
19:43political
19:44spaces and
19:45to spaces
19:46of power.
19:47How do
19:47you navigate
19:48the intersection
19:49of politics
19:50and creativity,
19:51especially in
19:52a role like
19:52Hina's
19:53chairman?
19:56Politics is
19:57about helping
19:58people.
19:59So if you're
20:00heading a
20:01GLC,
20:02a gambling
20:03agency,
20:04it's about
20:04helping people.
20:05So actually,
20:05decisions are
20:06quite easy.
20:06if you can
20:08help an
20:08individual or
20:09an organization,
20:10you help.
20:11If they
20:12come with
20:12non-documentation,
20:15non-licensing,
20:16non-MOF
20:16documentation,
20:18a bit
20:18difficult.
20:19Because we
20:20have to
20:20justify everything
20:21that we
20:22spend.
20:22We are
20:23audited.
20:24So there's
20:26no choice.
20:26If somebody
20:26comes and
20:27we say,
20:27boleh tolong bang?
20:28I'm like,
20:29boleh.
20:29Tapi you
20:30have to go
20:30through the
20:30process with
20:31the proper
20:31documentation.
20:32You have
20:33to win it
20:33at the
20:33end.
20:34You have
20:35to win it
20:35on your
20:35own.
20:36I can't
20:36help you
20:36win it.
20:37I can
20:37guide you
20:38through the
20:38process.
20:39Merit counts
20:40on your
20:40own.
20:41In a
20:41position that
20:42you're in,
20:42in the
20:42multiple
20:43positions that
20:43you're in,
20:44you are
20:45open to
20:45criticism.
20:46It goes
20:47without saying,
20:47right?
20:49I think I
20:49know where
20:49you're going.
20:50I think you
20:51know where
20:51you're going
20:51with this
20:51one.
20:52Some critics
20:53argue that
20:54celebrities
20:54entering
20:55administrative
20:56roles,
20:57which you
20:57have been
20:57doing for
20:58a long
20:58time,
20:58actually,
20:59lack the
20:59necessary
21:00experience.
21:00That's their
21:01argument.
21:01How do you
21:02respond to
21:03this perception
21:04that critics
21:05have?
21:06And do you
21:07take steps
21:07to ensure
21:08that you
21:09can prove
21:10them incorrect,
21:11that you
21:11are effective?
21:12My answer
21:13is this.
21:14There are
21:14doctors and
21:15lawyers who
21:16are politicians
21:17and they're
21:18useless.
21:19Good point.
21:21So,
21:22there you
21:22go.
21:23That's the
21:23sound part right
21:24there.
21:24What is the
21:25difference of
21:25an actor?
21:27I mean,
21:27we've got
21:27also useless
21:28actors and
21:28actresses who
21:29are very
21:30selfish in
21:30that sense,
21:31but we
21:31also have
21:31their quality.
21:33In every
21:34pool of
21:34industry,
21:35we have
21:35good and
21:36bad.
21:36We have
21:37clever and
21:37not so
21:38clever.
21:38That's the
21:39reality of
21:39life.
21:40It's not
21:40wrong,
21:40it's not
21:41right.
21:41It's just
21:41the reality
21:42is not
21:42everybody's
21:43perfect.
21:44So,
21:44you just
21:45need to
21:45understand who
21:46has the
21:46capability to
21:47do it and
21:47who doesn't.
21:48You have a
21:49very strong
21:51social media
21:51presence as
21:53well,
21:53right?
21:54And because of
21:55all this
21:55criticism,
21:55it appears
21:56whether you
21:56like it or
21:57not,
21:57what is
21:58your,
21:59how do
22:00you motivate
22:01yourself through
22:02it?
22:03Don't read.
22:04Don't read.
22:05I went through
22:06one issue in
22:06Pabadana Stadium,
22:07it was a
22:08massive one,
22:08and I was
22:10very upset,
22:10but I never
22:11responded.
22:12I never
22:13responded,
22:13even though I
22:15knew and I
22:16know that was
22:17not my fault.
22:18Okay.
22:19But I was
22:20told not to
22:21answer.
22:21Right.
22:22And I bit
22:22my tongue and
22:23I took the
22:24hit.
22:24Because we've
22:25been talking
22:25about movies
22:26and intersection
22:27of culture
22:27and also
22:28politics,
22:29right?
22:29Do you
22:30think arts
22:31and film in
22:31particular,
22:32right,
22:32become a
22:33form of,
22:33can it
22:33become a
22:34form of
22:34diplomacy
22:35for Malaysia?
22:36Yes.
22:36Oh yes.
22:38Oh yes.
22:39Let's give you
22:39an example
22:40of Korea.
22:41How did
22:41they market
22:42Korea?
22:43They marketed
22:44it through
22:44film and
22:45their brand
22:45of actors
22:46and actresses.
22:47They shot
22:47them around
22:48the world,
22:49they fronted
22:49the country
22:50for Korea,
22:51that suddenly
22:52this Korean
22:52brand built,
22:54I think they
22:55planned this
22:55about 15
22:55years ago,
22:56it was nothing
22:57new,
22:57but they had
22:58a vision
22:58that no one
22:59saw.
23:00They managed,
23:02they customized
23:04their talent
23:05and they
23:06said the
23:06tourism board
23:07funded it
23:08and said go
23:08around the
23:09world and
23:09promote Korea
23:10through music,
23:11through film,
23:13through talent.
23:14Look what
23:14they did to
23:15the country.
23:16And today
23:16your K-pop
23:17leads,
23:18Korean drama
23:19leads,
23:20they didn't
23:21get there
23:22overnight.
23:22But it
23:23wasn't by
23:23accident?
23:24It wasn't
23:24by accident,
23:24it was planned,
23:25investments were
23:26done,
23:27multi-multi
23:27millions were
23:28put into that
23:28to get that
23:29brand for the
23:29next 10 years
23:30of the country.
23:31So they had
23:31vision.
23:32Are we capable
23:33of this?
23:34We are capable
23:34of it,
23:34but a lot
23:35of people
23:35are afraid
23:35to do
23:36something 10
23:36years.
23:37We want
23:37things very
23:37quickly.
23:38We cannot.
23:41You want
23:41a result
23:41tomorrow,
23:42cannot.
23:43It's not
23:43going to
23:43happen 100%.
23:44Are there
23:45the beginnings
23:46of a plan
23:47somewhere for
23:48this to
23:48happen?
23:49Have you
23:50heard of
23:50anything?
23:51Are you
23:51involved in
23:51any discussions?
23:53I've been
23:53in some
23:54discussions,
23:55but the
23:55discussions are
23:55slightly different
23:56and we're
23:56not following
23:57the template
23:57of Korea.
23:58I think our
23:59vision right
24:00now is looking
24:00at Asia.
24:02I believe
24:02co-pros are
24:03one way of
24:04stepping out.
24:07Malaysian
24:07funding in
24:08probably also
24:09foreign countries,
24:10but shooting
24:12also in
24:12Malaysia and
24:13using a
24:14certain
24:14percentage of
24:14Malaysian
24:14talent.
24:16It may not
24:17be in Bahasa
24:17Malaysia,
24:18it may be in
24:19a language that's
24:20to that country,
24:21but that country,
24:22we can distribute
24:22that content or
24:24that film in
24:25that country
24:25easier.
24:26so that's
24:27the first
24:27step.
24:28Now people
24:28are going
24:28to say,
24:28we have
24:29to protect
24:29our
24:30language,
24:30our
24:31national
24:31language.
24:32I agree,
24:32but let us
24:34have that on
24:34the left here
24:35and continue
24:36doing what
24:36we do.
24:37The left
24:37has 10-15%
24:38to test
24:38these waters
24:39until we
24:40go out.
24:41Later on,
24:41when this
24:42succeeds,
24:42we can bring
24:42this and
24:43collaborate with
24:44this and
24:44get our
24:45language,
24:45our national
24:45language out.
24:46It's almost
24:47like a
24:47Trojan horse.
24:48It is.
24:49That's my
24:50vision.
24:50I don't know
24:50how people
24:51think.
24:51That sounds
24:51great.
24:52It's a bold
24:53move where
24:54people may
24:54shoot me
24:54down and
24:55say,
24:55oh,
24:56because they'll
24:56defend our
24:57culture and
24:57so on.
24:58I'm defending
24:58my culture.
24:59I'm defending
24:59Malaysia.
25:00Don't talk to
25:01me.
25:02Nobody can
25:02shoot this
25:02country down.
25:03I will argue.
25:04I will be
25:05upset.
25:06You're playing
25:06the long game.
25:07I'm patriotic
25:07for Malaysia,
25:08I'm telling
25:08you,
25:08but I have a
25:09longer vision,
25:09longer game.
25:11Let's talk
25:12about censorship
25:13a bit.
25:14Because Finas
25:14has often been
25:15seen as both
25:16a support system
25:17and a gatekeeper
25:18as well,
25:19right?
25:20How do you
25:20draw the line
25:21between
25:22regulating the
25:23industry and
25:24nurturing its
25:25creative freedom
25:25and then also
25:27the need to
25:28censor?
25:29Okay.
25:30Number one is
25:30censorship is
25:31not under
25:31Finas and
25:32KKMM.
25:32Okay.
25:33Censorship board
25:33is under
25:34KDN.
25:35Oh,
25:35right.
25:35Kementerian Dalam
25:36Negeri.
25:36Right.
25:37So it's not
25:37under our
25:38authority.
25:38Right.
25:39But do you
25:39have a say?
25:40We don't have
25:41a say.
25:41At the table.
25:42No.
25:42So no seat
25:43at the table.
25:43We don't have
25:44a seat at the
25:44table.
25:44From Finas,
25:45no.
25:45Let's hear your
25:46personal opinion
25:46of this as a
25:47creative.
25:47I think Finas should
25:48be on that
25:48panel.
25:49Right.
25:49A few people
25:50have mentioned
25:50to me this
25:51and said,
25:51you know,
25:51ask Minister
25:52whether we
25:52can do this
25:53and have
25:53some of
25:54Finas represent
25:55in the
25:55censorship board
25:56as well.
25:56Yeah.
25:57I haven't
25:58looked into
25:59it carefully
25:59because this
25:59was only
26:00discussed a
26:00few days
26:00ago,
26:01strangely.
26:02I haven't
26:03looked into
26:03it yet.
26:04So I've
26:04been so
26:06busy with
26:06the
26:06open houses.
26:07It's crazy.
26:08Putting on
26:08weight and
26:09I'm like,
26:09oh.
26:10Nobody is
26:10judging.
26:11Nobody is
26:11judging for
26:12sure.
26:12So but,
26:13you know,
26:14and I have
26:14all the
26:15meetings with
26:15associations
26:16and so on
26:16and the
26:16CEOs briefing
26:17me of
26:17what's going
26:18on and
26:18keeping me
26:19up to speed
26:20with everything
26:20since I've
26:21been away
26:21for five
26:21years from
26:22Finas.
26:23So I think
26:24that was
26:24something we'll
26:25look at
26:25down the line
26:25but I need
26:26the approval
26:26from obviously
26:27the ministry
26:27for something
26:29like that to
26:29happen.
26:29It cannot be
26:30my decision.
26:31Right.
26:31Because you
26:31are uniquely
26:32both a
26:33creative as
26:34well as an
26:34administrator.
26:35Yeah.
26:36So when it
26:37comes to
26:37like censorship,
26:38right,
26:38like we've
26:39been discussing
26:39and we've
26:41got the
26:43age restrictions
26:43in place
26:44already.
26:44We had a
26:45guide to
26:45follow.
26:45I was
26:45sitting next
26:46to the
26:46censorship
26:47head the
26:48other day
26:48in another
26:50station's
26:51open house
26:52and he was
26:53telling me,
26:54oh now we
26:54got this,
26:54we got this,
26:55we got this,
26:55we got this.
26:56I'm like,
26:56okay,
26:57but does it
26:58jeopardize the
26:58story when
26:59the filmmaker
26:59sends it
27:00in and you
27:01start cutting
27:01the film to
27:02pieces?
27:02You know what
27:03I mean?
27:04I think they
27:04have more
27:05better guideline
27:05after probably
27:06years,
27:07I think,
27:07you know,
27:08so let's
27:08give them a
27:08slightly bit of
27:09credit there.
27:10Yeah,
27:10yeah,
27:11there is
27:12change happening.
27:12Yeah,
27:12so if they
27:13give them
27:13more options
27:13in terms
27:14of 13,
27:1616,
27:1618,
27:17whatever it
27:17is,
27:17so they
27:19will not
27:20probably cut
27:20too much
27:21because it's
27:21for that
27:22cluster of
27:23age group.
27:23Right,
27:23so that
27:25means if
27:25we followed
27:26the guidelines,
27:28there would
27:29be more room
27:29to maintain
27:30the sanctity
27:32of the
27:33film.
27:34Yeah,
27:34I mean,
27:35I agree to
27:35the censorship
27:36of,
27:36you know,
27:37keeping racial
27:38harmony in the
27:39country,
27:39you know,
27:40in storytelling
27:41as well.
27:41I agree,
27:42okay,
27:43to the
27:43sexual side
27:45of filmmaking,
27:46you don't
27:47need to show
27:47that.
27:47It's very
27:48Hollywood-based,
27:49very European-based.
27:50Our culture
27:51is not based
27:51on that.
27:52Our culture
27:52is based
27:53on maybe
27:53human attachment
27:55in that sense.
27:56Love is shown
27:56in many ways.
27:58Love is shown
27:58in many ways.
27:59Why is love
27:59only shown
28:00in a physical aspect?
28:01Love can be shown
28:02in many other
28:03gestures.
28:04Speaking of
28:04culture,
28:05what role
28:05do you think
28:06Malaysian cinema
28:07should play
28:08in defining
28:09or challenging
28:10national identity,
28:12especially in a
28:13multicultural society
28:14like ours,
28:14right?
28:15Should it reflect
28:16what we are
28:17only or should
28:18it also reflect
28:18what we could
28:19be?
28:21I think
28:22both has to
28:23be there.
28:23What we are,
28:24what we were,
28:25and what we
28:26could be.
28:26I mean,
28:26that's three.
28:27I didn't say two,
28:28three.
28:28Right.
28:29So if you tell
28:29that story about
28:30what we are
28:31by mistakes
28:32we have made,
28:33what we were,
28:34what we are
28:35is what we're
28:36trying to fix
28:36and make it
28:37in line with
28:38everyone and
28:39what could be.
28:40So you've
28:41got the journey
28:41of the story
28:42and that's
28:42your art.
28:42Oh,
28:42that's an
28:43art of a
28:43story of a
28:43film right
28:44there,
28:44man.
28:44The three
28:45arcs.
28:46It's created
28:47an art of
28:47story film.
28:48Oh,
28:48I didn't
28:49realize it.
28:49Live.
28:50It happened
28:50here.
28:51So,
28:52you know,
28:53and telling
28:54a story about
28:55our culture.
28:55Culture is also
28:56Malaysia.
28:56It's about
28:57the Malay guy
28:58or the
28:59pachi or
28:59the machi,
29:00the auntie
29:01or the uncle
29:02in the garage.
29:03You know what
29:03I mean?
29:04Having said
29:05that,
29:05if you had
29:05the power to
29:06change one
29:08thing about
29:09Malaysia's
29:10entertainment
29:10industry today,
29:12what would
29:13it be and
29:13why?
29:14You can give
29:14more than
29:15one reason.
29:15I would change
29:17right now
29:17the manner
29:20of how
29:21the business
29:22is handled.
29:24Meaning,
29:25from the
29:25beginning of
29:25your script,
29:26going into
29:27grants,
29:27getting funding,
29:30filming,
29:31post-production,
29:32marketing,
29:33distribution,
29:34it is all
29:35digitized.
29:37Digitized in
29:37a sense that
29:38you know
29:38that you
29:39are protected
29:40by this
29:41digitization,
29:42you know
29:42your sales,
29:44nobody is
29:44going to,
29:45you know,
29:46you know
29:46where your
29:47film is at
29:48what point,
29:49you know
29:50when I go
29:50in for a
29:51grant,
29:51I'm going
29:51into it
29:52online rather
29:54than this
29:54paperwork,
29:55going through
29:55what someone
29:56decides.
29:58I think
29:58that's the
29:59first thing.
29:59On the
29:59business side,
30:00I will do
30:00that.
30:00Is that
30:01too much
30:01red tape
30:01now?
30:02Is that
30:02what you're
30:02saying?
30:02No,
30:02it's coming
30:03down within
30:03us.
30:03Right now
30:04everything is
30:04online.
30:05We've moved
30:05forward already,
30:06you know what I
30:06mean?
30:08I think
30:09just that
30:10the back
30:12end of
30:12the business
30:14needs to be
30:14looked at a
30:15little bit,
30:15meaning the
30:15final and
30:16the tail end
30:16of it.
30:17And that's
30:18something we're
30:19coming up with
30:19soon to
30:20make those
30:21changes.
30:21Is it
30:22mostly
30:22bureaucratic?
30:23It sounds
30:23like a lot
30:24of the
30:24issues that
30:25you brought
30:25up are
30:26bureaucratic
30:26issues because
30:28along the
30:29way,
30:31it's become
30:31complicated the
30:33way films are
30:34made.
30:35There are
30:36too many
30:36forms that
30:38need to be
30:38filled,
30:39too many
30:39permissions that
30:40need to be
30:41granted,
30:41that it could
30:42be better
30:42streamlined.
30:43Not really,
30:44to be honest,
30:44unless you're
30:45going for
30:45money or
30:46grants.
30:46The problem
30:47is the
30:47industry depends
30:48on grants,
30:48grants,
30:48grants,
30:49grants,
30:49grants.
30:49They're not
30:50looking at
30:50the ecosystem
30:50of using
30:51banks,
30:51using corporate
30:53sectors and
30:53using the
30:54grants together.
30:55If you take
30:55$1 million
30:56from Finas,
30:57why don't
30:57you use that
30:58to match
30:58with a bank
30:59on one-to-one?
31:00And that's
31:01not happening.
31:01That's not
31:02happening because
31:02they want the
31:03money for free
31:03before they
31:04make their
31:04film.
31:05They want to
31:05make their
31:05money when
31:06they get
31:06the grant.
31:08You're not
31:08going to make
31:09your money
31:09in the tail
31:09end of the
31:10film,
31:10which is
31:10when it
31:11goes to
31:11cinema and
31:11distribution,
31:12pre-sales,
31:13online sales
31:14and so on.
31:15So you need
31:15to create the
31:16whole structure
31:17of where I'm
31:18going to
31:18financially recover
31:19this film.
31:20That sounds
31:21like a
31:22major
31:23upheaval.
31:25You've got a
31:26lot of
31:26experience.
31:27That goes
31:29without saying,
31:30actually.
31:30Let's say
31:31young
31:32Malaysians
31:32who are
31:33looking to
31:33enter the
31:33entertainment
31:34industry.
31:35What's the
31:35one piece
31:35of advice
31:36you would
31:36wish someone
31:37had told
31:37you when
31:38you were
31:39starting out?
31:40What would
31:40you have
31:41told yourself?
31:47In the
31:48entertainment
31:49industry,
31:49I would
31:51have wanted
31:52to own
31:52my own
31:52content.
31:54Whatever I
31:54invested in,
31:55whatever I
31:56paid for
31:56from my own
31:57sweat and
31:57blood on
31:58my finances
31:58and I put
31:59into film
31:59a drama
32:00series or
32:01anything,
32:02I wish I
32:04fought for
32:04owning that
32:05content because
32:06P.
32:07Romney didn't
32:07and he
32:09passed on
32:09without
32:11anything.
32:12You know
32:12what I
32:13mean?
32:13And that's
32:14what's
32:14happening
32:14right now.
32:16The reason
32:17why I
32:18kind of
32:19wanted to
32:19stop acting
32:19is because
32:20I saw
32:20a veteran
32:20struggling
32:21and I
32:22said if
32:22I'm going
32:22to be
32:2270 years
32:23old and
32:23still struggling
32:24looking for
32:24a job,
32:26I'm like,
32:26I don't
32:27want to do
32:27that.
32:28That's why
32:28I invested
32:29into
32:29businesses.
32:30Are you
32:31saying that
32:31even today
32:32it is not
32:33viable for
32:34an actor
32:35or actress
32:36to just
32:37be an
32:37actor and
32:37actress and
32:38make a
32:39living for
32:39themselves?
32:40Most of
32:40the actors
32:41or most
32:41of the
32:41so-called
32:42celebrities,
32:43they are
32:43building off
32:44endorsements
32:45on social
32:46media,
32:47getting paid
32:47a certain
32:47amount,
32:48going to
32:48events and
32:49getting paid
32:49and publicizing
32:50products on
32:51it and so
32:51on.
32:52And then
32:52they become
32:53popular and
32:53then they
32:54get into
32:54probably a
32:55film,
32:55a drama
32:56series and
32:56basically
32:57they're an
32:57artist.
32:57That sounds
32:59broken.
33:01Yeah,
33:01but that's
33:01the reality
33:02of what it
33:02is and I
33:02didn't want
33:02to be part
33:03of that.
33:04So at my
33:05age I
33:05thought my
33:06social media
33:07is not
33:07going to
33:07go any
33:07higher.
33:08I'm not
33:08going to
33:09be in
33:09this league,
33:09I'm not
33:10going to
33:10play this
33:10game,
33:10I'm not
33:11going to
33:11go to
33:11events and
33:12promote
33:12myself and
33:12the
33:13products.
33:13I said,
33:13I'm done
33:14with that.
33:14I did it
33:15before.
33:16I'm done
33:17with that.
33:17I did
33:18endorsements,
33:19I did it,
33:19we got paid
33:20quite a lot
33:20of money,
33:20I made
33:21money off
33:21endorsements,
33:27making the
33:30moves with
33:31all of
33:32the
33:32opportunities
33:32that come
33:33your way
33:33and actually
33:35utilising it
33:36makes a
33:37difference.
33:37It does,
33:38but in
33:39life it's
33:39never smooth
33:40sailing,
33:41never smooth
33:41sailing.
33:42There's
33:42going to
33:42be times
33:42it's going
33:42to be a
33:42tough time.
33:43After COVID
33:44I think
33:44everybody
33:44suffered,
33:45I suffered,
33:46I had
33:46struggled
33:46to keep
33:46my staff
33:47together,
33:48I struggled
33:48to,
33:49you know,
33:50every day
33:50thinking,
33:51okay,
33:51where am I
33:51going to
33:52get funds,
33:52there's no
33:52business.
33:53After COVID
33:54we really
33:54struggled,
33:55it wasn't
33:55just COVID
33:55time,
33:56because COVID
33:56we had
33:56savings.
33:57So we
33:57got through
33:57COVID,
33:58I kept
33:58all my
33:59stuff,
33:59I never
33:59fired a
34:00single
34:00person,
34:01paid them
34:01full
34:01salaries,
34:02for two
34:02years,
34:03never came
34:03to the
34:04office once.
34:04Because they
34:05have families,
34:06they have
34:06kids to
34:06feed,
34:07I thought,
34:07you know
34:07what,
34:07I can't
34:08do this,
34:08they've
34:08been with
34:08me 30
34:09years,
34:0920 years,
34:10I'm going
34:10to save
34:10them.
34:11I used
34:11every single
34:12savings I
34:13had and
34:13reserves I
34:14had to
34:14keep that
34:14structure
34:15alive.
34:16But after
34:16that structure
34:17went,
34:17you struggle
34:17two years
34:18after that,
34:18you've
34:19got to
34:19build
34:19again.
34:20I mean,
34:21you're giving
34:23me some
34:23PTSD now
34:24because we
34:25all know,
34:25those of us
34:26who are in
34:26the entertainment
34:27industry,
34:28how tough
34:29that time
34:30was for us.
34:31Terrible.
34:31All jobs
34:32were cancelled,
34:33events were
34:33cancelled,
34:34every single
34:34aspect of
34:35our livelihood
34:36was gone.
34:38We were
34:38done that
34:39two years.
34:39The fact
34:40that we
34:40still survive
34:41to this
34:41day,
34:42to be able
34:42to sit
34:43here now
34:43actually,
34:43to even
34:44have this
34:44conversation
34:45is almost
34:46something that
34:47seems surreal.
34:48But we
34:49made it
34:49through.
34:50People are
34:51still struggling
34:51through.
34:52Even today,
34:52they have
34:53not recovered
34:53from COVID.
34:55That's the
34:56reality of
34:56it.
34:57It's hard
34:57to see.
34:58Some didn't
34:59even survive
35:00it.
35:00Some didn't
35:01make it past
35:01it.
35:02Some people
35:02production
35:03will
35:03back to
35:03the
35:04city.
35:06I felt
35:07so bad
35:07but I
35:07couldn't
35:07help them.
35:09Whatever I
35:09earned from
35:10Finas as
35:11a chairman
35:11that time
35:12for a
35:12year plus,
35:13I gave
35:13all my
35:13salary and
35:14I gave
35:14it back
35:14to them.
35:15I called
35:15everybody
35:15and gave
35:16them a
35:16thousand
35:16bucks.
35:16I
35:16have
35:17made a
35:20decision
35:20that
35:20when I
35:20served
35:21in
35:21Finas
35:21the
35:21first
35:21term,
35:23I
35:23wasn't
35:24going to
35:24take
35:24any
35:24money
35:24from
35:24Finas.
35:25But we
35:25got paid
35:26an allowance
35:26and I
35:27used that
35:28allowance
35:28in COVID
35:29to give
35:29it all
35:29back to
35:29the
35:30industry,
35:30crew,
35:30makeup
35:31artists,
35:32people
35:32who were
35:32struggling,
35:33handed out
35:34an envelope
35:34to them.
35:34And we
35:35are looking
35:35forward now
35:36to see
35:36as the
35:38two years
35:39that are
35:39coming up
35:41with you
35:42helming
35:43Finas
35:44again.
35:45We look
35:45forward to
35:46see what
35:46But I'm
35:46not alone.
35:47I obviously
35:47have Minister
35:48backing us,
35:50Fami,
35:51we have
35:52the CEO,
35:54we have
35:55the board,
35:56the industry
35:56players,
35:56the associations
35:57and I
35:58always tell
35:58them that
35:59this is a
35:59team effort.
36:00Not one
36:00person can
36:01do this
36:01alone.
36:02It takes
36:02a village.
36:02It's going
36:03to take
36:03all of us
36:03to do
36:04this.
36:04But if
36:04you don't
36:05back us,
36:05we're done
36:06here.
36:07You guys
36:07on the
36:08ground need
36:08to back
36:08us.
36:09It's not
36:10the other
36:10way.
36:10We've got
36:11to back
36:11us to
36:13change
36:13these
36:13policies.
36:15We look
36:15forward to
36:16that.
36:16Thank you
36:17for sharing
36:17that with
36:18us.
36:18Now we're
36:19going on
36:19to the
36:20rapid-fire
36:21questions.
36:22You've
36:22got to
36:23answer as
36:23quickly as
36:23you can
36:24with
36:24whatever
36:24comes to
36:25mind.
36:25What's
36:26one film
36:26you wish
36:27you had
36:27directed?
36:28Braveheart.
36:29Mel Gibson.
36:31If you
36:32could erase
36:32one moment
36:33from your
36:33career,
36:33what would
36:34it be?
36:35Erase
36:35one moment.
36:39Not
36:39taking
36:40that
36:42picture
36:42in
36:44Stadium
36:44Bukit
36:44Jalil on
36:45the field
36:45because
36:46everybody
36:47thought I
36:47was in
36:48charge of
36:48that field
36:48and I
36:49got blamed
36:49for it.
36:50I
36:52know exactly
36:52the moment.
36:54Some
36:54reporter from
36:55far took
36:55that picture
36:56and made
36:56it look
36:57like I
36:57was just
36:57checking the
36:58field before
36:58the game.
36:58I was like,
36:59is it okay?
36:59Is it going to
37:00last?
37:00You know what
37:00I mean?
37:01Right.
37:01Because we
37:01didn't want
37:02to play
37:02that game.
37:03We didn't
37:03want to.
37:04We said
37:04Coldplay
37:05and the
37:06Malaysian game.
37:07That schedule
37:08came from
37:08the previous
37:08regime.
37:09We inherited
37:09that.
37:10I couldn't
37:11cancel Coldplay
37:12because they'll
37:12sue us for
37:12hundreds of
37:13millions.
37:13I couldn't
37:14cancel the
37:14national game
37:15and it was
37:16too close
37:16that we
37:17went,
37:18this is
37:18going to
37:19look really
37:19bad.
37:21So walking
37:21down on
37:22that field
37:22was my
37:23biggest mistake.
37:24I should
37:24have stayed
37:24in the
37:25corporate suite
37:25and didn't
37:26care about
37:26it.
37:27But I
37:27cared too
37:27much about
37:28it.
37:29Well said.
37:31What's the
37:32boldest decision
37:32you've ever
37:33made?
37:34To go into
37:35politics.
37:37Who's the
37:37toughest critic
37:38between these
37:40three?
37:41Your audience,
37:42the media,
37:43or yourself?
37:44Myself.
37:46Why do you
37:46think that?
37:46Oh, I'm
37:47terrible.
37:48I kind of
37:48watch my
37:49film sometimes.
37:49I'm like,
37:49oh, you
37:49guys watch.
37:55To this
37:56day.
37:57Oh,
37:57interesting.
37:58If you
37:59could give
37:59your younger
38:00self one
38:00piece of
38:00advice,
38:01what would
38:02it be?
38:03Not be
38:03so stubborn.
38:05Yeah.
38:06I started
38:06off younger
38:07being very
38:07stubborn.
38:08Sometimes the
38:08point of
38:09stubborn is
38:09becoming
38:09arrogant.
38:11And I
38:11have quite
38:12an arrogant
38:12face.
38:12People look
38:13at me like,
38:13sombong.
38:14But it's
38:14actually two
38:15things.
38:15One,
38:16I've got
38:16bad eyesight,
38:17so I can't
38:17see people
38:17at the
38:18distance,
38:18so I don't
38:19know it's
38:19you.
38:20That's
38:20number one.
38:20People don't
38:20realise about
38:21that about
38:21me.
38:22Two,
38:22I've got
38:22this face
38:23that I
38:23think I
38:24don't smile
38:25too much.
38:26But when
38:26you get to
38:27know me,
38:27they're like,
38:28wow,
38:29not the
38:29person we
38:30thought.
38:31Describe
38:31Datuk
38:32Hans Isaac
38:33in three
38:33words.
38:35Determined,
38:36workaholic,
38:38stubborn.
38:39I'm not
38:39stubborn anymore.
38:39Okay,
38:40that's the
38:41one that we,
38:41okay,
38:42you got over
38:42that one.
38:43Got it,
38:43got it,
38:43got it.
38:44And I
38:45would say,
38:48too forgiving
38:48sometimes.
38:49Oh,
38:50too forgiving.
38:51Too forgiving.
38:51People who,
38:52people who do
38:54nasty things to me
38:55and suffer that,
38:55I,
38:56I just,
38:57I just,
38:57I don't know.
38:57And it
38:58sometimes backfires
38:59on me as
38:59well.
39:00Sometimes I
39:00should stand
39:00my ground
39:01and go,
39:01no.
39:02Face up,
39:03no.
39:04Is it
39:04because you
39:05believe that
39:06people can
39:07change?
39:07Yeah.
39:07I believe
39:08people require
39:09a second
39:09chance.
39:10I've made
39:10mistakes in
39:11my life when
39:11I was younger.
39:12I'm not the
39:12most perfect
39:13person,
39:13you know what
39:14I mean?
39:14None of us
39:15in this room
39:15is perfect.
39:17None.
39:18And it's
39:19easier to see
39:19someone else as
39:20less perfect than
39:20you to make
39:21yourself feel
39:22better.
39:22Yeah.
39:23You've got to
39:23look at the
39:23person.
39:24What's the
39:24quality of the
39:25person?
39:26Slowly,
39:26if you
39:26recognize
39:27that person
39:27with that
39:27quality,
39:28that negativity,
39:29they will
39:29push aside.
39:30They'll be
39:30like,
39:30you know,
39:30I'm going
39:30to change
39:31because this
39:31is the
39:32positive.
39:32I'm getting
39:32positive energy
39:33here and
39:34I'm going
39:34to say,
39:34you know what?
39:35This is
39:35nice.
39:36This makes
39:36me feel
39:36good.
39:37So whatever
39:38bad or
39:38whatever
39:38negativity
39:39or less
39:40the person
39:40you are,
39:41that will
39:41slowly change
39:41the positivity.
39:42Right.
39:43So that's
39:44the kind
39:44of Malaysia
39:44we want.
39:45Yeah.
39:45This is a
39:46question.
39:46This is the
39:47closing question.
39:47Final thing.
39:48Final question.
39:49All of our
39:49guests.
39:49It is
39:52uniquely
39:53significant
39:54to you
39:54because you
39:55are literally
39:56one step
39:58away from
39:58the person
39:59we are going
39:59to mention
40:00in this
40:01question,
40:01which is,
40:02if you had
40:03the opportunity
40:03to make
40:04one change
40:05as Prime
40:06Minister of
40:07Malaysia for
40:08a day,
40:09what would
40:10it be
40:10and why?
40:12Number one,
40:12that will never
40:13happen of me
40:13being the
40:13Prime Minister
40:14because of
40:15the way the
40:16structure is
40:16built in
40:17Malaysia
40:17and we
40:18recognize it
40:19and we
40:19respect it
40:20but if I
40:21had an
40:22opportunity
40:22to change
40:22something
40:23in this
40:23country,
40:24it would
40:24be as
40:25simple as
40:26oh my
40:27God,
40:28I would
40:28say
40:28I'd like
40:32to see
40:32Malaysia
40:33truly united.
40:35How we
40:35get there
40:36is going
40:37to be
40:37in different
40:38many,
40:38many ways.
40:39And thank
40:40you for
40:40giving us
40:41your time
40:42and sharing
40:43with us
40:43today.
40:43We appreciate
40:44you joining
40:44us.
40:45I've enjoyed
40:45this.
40:46Yeah,
40:46we have
40:47too.
40:47I enjoy
40:48this.
40:48We
40:49appreciate
40:49you.
40:50Fast and
40:51short,
40:51I thought.
40:52I enjoyed
40:53it.
40:53That's why
40:53I run
40:53fast.
40:54Usually I'm
40:55like,
40:55really not
40:56beating.
40:56Thank you,
40:57Dr. Hans Isaac
40:57for joining
40:58us.
40:59We appreciate
40:59you.
40:59Thanks,
41:00guys.
41:00Thanks,
41:00guys.
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37:08