Al-Fatehah Memali

(Pix: Rahmat Haron the film maker of the documentary)

( Pix The Late Ibrahim Mahmud)


On Nov 19, 1985, in which the villagers of Memali in Kedah faced off against hundreds of police personnel. The authorities had received information that a deviant Islamic sect, led by Ibrahim Mahmud (better known as Ibrahim Libya), had influenced the villagers to overthrow the government.


They had wanted to arrest Ibrahim – a scholar who had previously appeared on national television to lecture on Islamic matters – under the Internal Security Act (ISA). He resisted arrest with the locals’ help. Four policemen and 14 villagers died in the ensuing confrontation.


In 2009 documentary titled Al-Fatehah Memali was made that touches on incident and it was showcase at 6th Komas Freedom Film Festival. I interview the documentary maker on his work and the story appeared in the sun dated Oct 1 2009

Here is the full story




Memali side of story
by Bissme S.


POET and painter Rahmat Haron is not making things easy for himself with his first major foray into filmmaking by highlighting a tragic incident in our country’s past.


His 30-minute documentary, Al-Fatehah Memali, recalls that day on Nov 19, 1985, in which the villagers of Memali in Kedah faced off against hundreds of police personnel. The authorities had received information that a deviant Islamic sect, led by Ibrahim Mahmud (better known as Ibrahim Libya), had influenced the villagers to overthrow the government.


They had wanted to arrest Ibrahim – a scholar who had previously appeared on national television to lecture on Islamic matters – under the Internal Security Act (ISA). He resisted arrest with the locals’ help. Four policemen and 14 villagers died in the ensuing confrontation.


"I’m not digging up the past for the sake of being controversial or provocative," says the 32-year-old artist. "My intention is to deal with what happened. We cannot carry any historical baggage with us if we want to move forward.


"It is like dealing with apartheid in Africa or Chinese women who were forced to become comfort women during World War II. We have to discuss these issues openly."


Rahmat was only eight when the Memali incident happened. "But I remember watching the news on television reporting the incident and seeing the police and FRUs with M16 guns moving in.


"I was so scared. I kept asking myself why were the Memali people so dangerous? I was happy that the authorities stepped in to control the situation."


As he grew older, Rahmat learned there was more to the incident. The more he read about it, the more he realised that there was another story that needed to be told.


An advocate for the abolition of ISA, Rahmat believes that the Memali incident was an example of how ISA had been misused.


"To detain someone without a fair trial is inhumane," he says. "ISA is a law that the British colonial masters created and I do not understand why we are continuing this colonial legacy. We have enough existing laws to protect ourselves and we do not need the ISA."


He adds that he is looking at the Memali incident from a human rights perspective. "They (the villagers) were opposing the ISA and some of them died for this. The authorities had accused them of being deviant Islamic militants who wanted to overthrow the government.


"But these villagers were farmers, tappers and schoolteachers. Do you really believe these people were capable of overthrowing the government? The 120 people arrested included women and children who had to spend time in jail."


He adds that the Memali case was quickly settled out of court and the family of the 14 who died were compensated with RM20,000 each.


"There was a White Paper on the incident and a documentary produced by RTM which presented the official version of what took place," he says.


However, he adds that the people of Memali never got to tell their side of the story. "I’m highlighting their voice [in Al-Fatehah Memali]."


One of his most memorable moments making this documentary was when he interviewed Solehah Husin, Ibrahim’s wife.


"She wasn’t emotional when she was telling her story," he says. "I was amazed by her calmness throughout the interview. Maybe, her religious conviction taught her to be patient."


Rahmat tried to get the government to tell its side of story but was unsuccessful in getting an interview with Tan Sri Musa Hitam, who was then acting prime minister and home minister while Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was abroad.


Al-Fatehah Memali was made with a RM5,000 grant from Komas. It will be showcased at the 6th Komas Freedom Film Festival along with a handful of local and international documentaries and short films touching on the topic of human rights, social and environmental justice.


The festival will take place at The Annexe, Central Market Kuala Lumpur (tomorrow to Sunday), Han Chiang College Penang (Oct 9-11), Sekolah Menengah Chung Hua No. 1, Kuching (Oct 23-25) and Tropical Inn, Johor Baru (Oct 30-Nov 1).