Aksi Kuching (1966)

Director, Author, Screenplay, Story : Omar Rojik
Assistant Director : S. Sudarmaji
Produced by Vee Meng Shaw

Starring :
Aziz Sattar
Olives
Normadiah
Ahmad David
S. Shamsuddin
Jasmine

Edited by : HR Narayana, Hayat Harris
Music by : Yusof B, Kassim Masdor

Publishing company :
Malay Film Productions
Distributed by : Shaw Brothers
Release date : 1966
Country : Singapore
Language : Malay

AN OPEN LETTER
TO THE PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENT OF MALAYSIA
ON THE LEGACY OF MALAY CLASSIC FILMS AND P. RAMLEE

I write this letter as an Indonesian citizen, a lifelong admirer of classic Malay cinema, and a devoted fan of the works of the late Tan Sri P. Ramlee—an artist whose genius transcended national borders.

For me, these films are not only cultural artifacts; they are deeply personal.
Classic Malaysian films—especially those of P. Ramlee—were a constant presence throughout my childhood. I grew up watching them on television, absorbing their humor, music, moral lessons, and warmth. They shaped my earliest memories of cinema and became part of my emotional history.

It is only natural, then, that as an adult today, I wish to revisit these films—not as faded memories, but as preserved masterpieces. Wanting to watch them in proper, restored, high-definition quality is not an excessive demand. It is a reasonable desire to reconnect with one’s childhood and cultural roots with dignity.

The films of P. Ramlee are not merely entertainment. They are cultural records, social commentaries, historical documents, and reflections of the Malay soul of their time. Yet today, in the digital era, these priceless works have become increasingly difficult to access in any proper form.

Most Malaysian classic films from the 1950s and 1960s:
Are not officially available on digital platforms
Exist online only in poor, degraded quality
Have unclear status regarding restoration, archiving, and preservation

Out of genuine admiration, I once traveled to Malaysia hoping to find official physical releases of these classic films. What I encountered was deeply disappointing. Many people did not know where such materials could be obtained, and even at the P. Ramlee Museum, I was simply advised to “look for them on YouTube.”

This leads to a sincere and troubling question:
"Is the legacy of an artist as monumental as P. Ramlee meant to survive only through blurry, unofficial uploads on the internet?"

In many countries, classic films are treated with respect:
They are professionally restored
Carefully archived by the state
Re-released in high quality
Actively introduced to younger generations

What we see today, however, is a painful contrast. The heritage of Malaysia’s greatest artists appears to be slowly abandoned to time, neglect, and digital decay.

This letter is not written out of hostility, but out of concern and deep respect. It is ironic—and heartbreaking—that admirers from outside Malaysia feel compelled to mourn the fading preservation of cultural treasures that originate from Malaysia itself.

I respectfully urge:
-The Malaysian government and cultural institutions to take serious responsibility for restoring and archiving classic films
The official, legal, and high-quality release of P. Ramlee’s works and those of his contemporaries
Museums and cultural bodies to serve not only as symbols, but as active centers of preservation and education

A great nation is not defined only by the masterpieces it produces—
but by how it honors and safeguards the legacy of its artists.

Respectfully,
A lover of Malay classic cinema
from Indonesia

Nb : This uploaded video is not monetized at all.