The Big Durian

This documentary was commented about the case on the night of 18 October 1987, a soldier ran amok with an M16 in the area of Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur. Due to the thorny circumstances of the time and place, his amok triggered a citywide panic and rumors of racial riots. Why did he do it? Why were Malaysians so jittery at the time? And what happened next? "The Big Durian" speaks to 23 Malaysians (some real, some fictional) to find out. (2003, amirmu)

I have been watched for several times in my university life. It must be a significant incident happened in Kuala Lumpur and made an impact to the residents around Chow Kit road. As a baby at that time, I know nothing about this case. After watching the documentary, the first thought came into my mind was Malaysia always being like that—lack of freedom expression and without human right. Not only so, normal people is always be suppressed by those people who has authority. I wonder how come people could live under a controlling country.

Q1: What scene in “The Big Durian” made an impression on you, and why?

The scene in "The Big Durian" that made an impression on me was the scene when a pictures montage was made during the interview with the salesgirl. Those pictures were taken at that time and showed us the silence and loneliness what Chow Kit road was. The director was able to bring up the atmosphere that the case was for the audiences throughout the whole documentary.

Q2: What was rumored to be Private Adam’s grouse (pain)/ reason which lead to him running amuck (amok)?

From the documentary we know that Private Adam’s brother was murdered by the Sultan of Johor in the golf club. Private Adam could not able to justice his own brother in the court in the term that the privileges of Sultan covered up and distorted the cases. After that, Private Adam’s grouse was tremendously raised for his brother due to his helplessness towards his brother. As a result of that, he went amuck by taking a riffle and berserked in Chow Kit road to relieve his own feeling of expression.

Q3: A character from Sabah ends her narratives by noting the look on Private Adam’s face. What was it that she saw and now does it contrast with her feelings?

The character from Sabah ends her narratives by noting that Private Adam was actually a kind of freedom expression. It contrasts with her feelings that appeared in her own life. She felt being controlled and struggling in this sophisticated world which desired for fortune, power and fame.

Q4: From what historical vantage (perspective) point is the director viewing the events of 1987? What is the “present” of the documentary and what is its mood?

The historical vantage point that the director views the events of 1987 was surrounded by political issue and the freedom expression. It happened in the director’s youth time. The director would like to find out the truth, so that the director produced this documentary in the after years 2003. The good point for this documentary is the director was able to use kind of relaxing and jovial mood to present the stressed and serious incident and I personally felt that it worked.

As one of our classmate said, it actually shows the imbalance and hierarchy position between the normal resident and the people with authority. It mocks about the authority should do something about it. It needs to be concerned otherwise the people will be abolished from different kind of underground rule and regulations.