‘Orang Perang’ a fitting tribute to Malaysia’s unsung heroes

The Senoi Praaq, an elite tracking unit of the Royal Malaysia Police composed primarily of Orang Asli fighters, was initially formed during the 1950s Malayan Emergency to fight communist insurgents in the jungles of Malaya.

The film “Orang Perang: The Silent Killer”, released on Oct 1, is the first major Malaysian feature film dedicated entirely to the history and struggles of the Senoi Praaq unit.

Directed by Hashim Rejab, the historical action film follows five Orang Asli men who are initially manipulated into helping the communists before turning against them. In the film, these five go on to form the 10-member unit that became the first Senoi Praaq unit in 1955.

The film opens with communist insurgents raiding an Orang Asli village, killing the people and taking their children captive. After his grandfather, the village leader, is killed, young Bah Tangga (Niezam Zaidi) rebels against the communists.

The film does not hold back when depicting the violence of the period. With an 18+ rating, be prepared for beheadings, sexual violence and other heinous acts that the communists inflicted on Orang Asli communities.

Pelangkin, the fierce right-hand man to communist leader Chin Poh, is portrayed as particularly vicious with Ammar Alfian’s physicality and almost animalistic performance.

The action is another strong point. The hand-to-hand combat feels physical and convincing. The eerie background score at times sounds like something out of “Anaconda”, adding a suspenseful feel to the jungle scenes.

But the film’s most interesting aspect is perhaps its portrayal of the Orang Asli’s complicated position during the Emergency.

Initially, the Orang Asli refused to take sides in a conflict between the British colonial government and communist insurgents. Both sides had encroached on their ancestral lands, and the communists had exploited their knowledge of the jungle by using them as scouts and suppliers.

This gives the story some nuance and shows why the community was not immediately eager to join the government’s fight.

Eventually, Inspector Syed Zainal (Fauzi Nawawi) and R.O.D. Noone (Josiah Hogan), a real-life British intelligence officer, offers amnesty to the five Orang Asli men who escape the communists.

They agree to join the fight against the insurgents on one condition: that their children be allowed to go to school.

So, it is only in the latter half of the film that the Senoi Praaq is formed. This is also where the film falls slightly short.

Despite being about the Senoi Praaq, there is surprisingly little focus on the tracking abilities that made the unit so distinctive. Their training is shown in a brief montage, followed by one memorable sequence where they silently move through the jungle at night, using knives and blowpipes to attack communist fighters.

There is potential to explore much more of their traditional knowledge and specialised jungle skills, such as their ability to use animal sounds, smells and subtle signs in the forest to detect human presence. Instead, the film spends much of its runtime showing the events that led to the unit’s formation.

Although the film intentionally focuses more on the unit’s history, less screen time for the communist insurgents could perhaps have allowed more room for the Senoi Praaq scenes.

At times, however, the patriotic speeches on unity, freedom and being “anak Malaya” can feel a little heavy-handed. Still, the message is clear: the country’s freedom came at a cost, and many of those who contributed to it remain largely unknown.

At the end, the 10 Senoi Praaq members receive their maroon berets, but the film does not explain the significance of this gesture. The berets were actually a unique honour, previously reserved for British forces.

The credits roll with real images of the Senoi Praaq, a fitting reminder that the story is rooted in the experiences of real people.

“Orang Perang” may not delve deeply enough into the specialised skills of the Senoi Praaq, but it succeeds in introducing their history to audiences who may know little about them.

More than anything, the film leaves you with a greater appreciation for the indigenous people who fought and sacrificed during one of the most turbulent periods in Malaya’s history.

As of press time, ‘Orang Perang: The Silent Killer’ is screening in cinemas nationwide.

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