Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail appeared touched after watching the premier of 'Anwar: The Untold Story' - Bernama pic
PM pays loving tribute to wife
Anwar was sentenced to jail in 1999 after being charged with abuse of power. Four years after his release, he was accused of sodomising an aide in 2008.
He was imprisoned for sodomy in 2015 and released on May 16, 2018, upon receiving a royal pardon.
The film documents Anwar’s journey to battle corruption. It charts the period from when he was first appointed as Finance Minister in 1991 until his sacking from the Cabinet in 1998 and the “Reformasi” campaign, which led to his imprisonment later that year.
“It is difficult for me to comment much as I have tried very hard to forget certain episodes which were too hurtful for me to bear,” he told reporters.
He also said that although the film’s overall dialogue was not wholly accurate, the issues it raised were based on true events.
Despite going through so much, he made it clear during the media conference that he would not let the hardship stop him from campaigning for what’s right.
“The battle against corruption continues. As Prime Minister, I want to save this country, fight against corruption and fight it hard,” he said.
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail appeared touched after watching the premiere of 'Anwar: The Untold Story' last night.
He said although some of the dialog and storyline may not be truly accurate, he acknowledged that it was not easy to put together years of incidents into the 90-minute long biopic.
"We were touched, it was surreal, the performances were great and extraordinary.
"The children asked how can I agree to the making of the movie which I have not watched.
"Agree or not is not important, this is not a movie by Anwar for Anwar.
"Also, whether this movie will have a political impact or not is secondary, because this is a story that needs to be told," he said, after the show at Dadi Cinema, Pavilion here.
The film was directed by Viva Westi of Indonesia, with Farid Kamil as Anwar, Tanda Putera actor Hasnul Rahmat as former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Indonesian actress Acha Septriasa as Wan Azizah.
The film attempted to chart the period from Anwar's appointment as finance minister in 1991 until his firing from the cabinet in 1998, as well as his Reformasi campaign which culminated in his jailing that year.
Anwar said while watching the movie, he identified some scenes that might not bode well with his siblings.
However, he said he has no plan to intervene and ask for it to be edited out and would leave the matter to the censorship board to decide.
"If they (siblings) are offended, then I will just have to make it up to them." he added.
Anwar said initially, he was hoping to listen to 'Menjaga Cintamu', the movie's theme song by pop queen Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza Taruddin but it was not included during the premier.
He hoped that the song, composed by Andi Rianto and written by Sekar Ayu Asmara, will be included in the final version of the movie which will be screened to public from May 18.
Also present during the premiere were director Viva Westi, executive producer Zulkiflee SM Anwar Ulhaque or better known as Zunar, and DMY chairman Datuk Mohamed Yusoff, the movie distributor.
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