Eager to help in Tunku film
The Star – 25/3/2006
PENANG: Owen Chung is a rich source of stories on Tunku Abdul Rahman that might add colour to any movie on the country’s Bapa Malaysia.  
The 73-year-old former aide-de-camp to Tunku is glad that a movie is being made on the country’s struggle for independence that would feature the Tunku.  
“It is a good idea for the younger generation to know him better, other than just as Bapa Malaysia.  
“I can help provide an insight into little known facts about his life if the filmmakers are interested,” said Chung who had served the Tunku until his death in 1990.  Chung was talking about the search for an actor to play the Tunku for the movie 1957, set for release before next year’s 50th National Day celebrations.  
1957 is a docudrama that attempts to record the role of all races in the fight for independence.  It will be directed by award-winning director Suhaimi Baba and produced by Kavita Kaur and Nancy Yeoh, with the support of the Selangor royalty and several prominent figures in the state.  Chung said the actor portraying the Tunku must be able to project his outspokenness and sincerity and be fluent in English and Bahasa Malaysia.  
“Tunku was an honest man with foresight, and he had wanted people of all races in the country to be looked after,” said Chung, adding that the Tunku developed a gift of foreseeing danger.  Chung related an incident in which the Tunku’s boat sprang a leak while sailing off Penang east coast in the 1980s.  
When the captain challenged the Tunku’s instruction to turn left to deeper waters instead of right closer to shore, Chung said the Tunku angrily reiterated, “I ask you to do it, you do it.”  
“Less than five minutes after turning left, the boat got stuck on a sand bank. A marine police boat later came to our rescue,” he said.  
“Had we turned right, we might not have had enough time to reach shore,” Chung said.  
On another occasion, the Tunku refused to use a private lift in his home and opted to walk down the stairs.  
“Three hours later, the lift cables snapped and it plunged down from the top floor.  
Source: The Star | http://thestar.com.my