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This New Merdeka Short Film Is A Powerful Reminder Of How Malaysians Have Always Been Resilient & Strong

This New Merdeka Short Film Is A Powerful Reminder Of How Malaysians Have Always Been Resilient & Strong

The film took 3 months to produce!

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This year has been a tough one for many Malaysians, but one particularly inspiring Merdeka advertisement is reminding us of how powerful and resilient we’ve always been.

The Celcom MeReka Merdeka short film features the tale of two generations nearly a century apart, but bound by a common purpose – bracing the pandemic.

This inspiring film centres around the revolutionary invention of Penangite Dr Wu Lien-Teh during the 1910 Manchurian plague – the first medical mask that protected its users from bacteria and other airborne contaminants, widely acknowledged as the precursor to today’s N95 mask.

Screenshot from Celcom Axiata/YouTube

READ MORE: The Original N95 Type Mask Was Designed By A Malaysian

Dr Wu’s challenging journey is then paralleled with a contemporary Malaysian who also goes through a similar journey of creation during this year’s Covid-19 pandemic – all set to a hauntingly patriotic rendition of Negaraku.

Screenshot from Celcom Axiata/YouTube

According to Marketing Interactive, the film was created in collaboration with Passion Pictures and Watermelon Studios, taking a full three months to produce.

The inspiring ad is actually an extension of Celcom Axiata’s Celcom MeReka Merdeka initiative, where Malaysians are invited to create and submit their own face mask design.

These designs will then be made available to the public for pre-order, thereby creating a new revenue stream for those who need it most.

Celcom is also collaborating with social enterprise Earth Heir and M&C Saatchi to produce reusable face masks in a sanitised workshop and hand sewn by artisans from marginalised communities.

Aside from that, the telco has also invited talented Malaysian artists to create their very own limited-edition face mask designs, including fashion designer and feminist Alia Bastamam, ‘Covid-19 Heroes‘ mural artist Suhaimi Ali, popular graffiti artist Chern Cloakwork, and the super talented henna artist Karthine Maniam.

Credit: Celcom

To find out more about the Celcom MeReka Merdeka initiative, check out their website (HERE).

In the meantime, have a look at their powerful merdeka short film below and be prepared to tear up:

Selamat Hari Merdeka!


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