AMPANG, 10 August 2026 – Senior Political Advisor to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Datuk Seri Utama Tengku Zafrul Aziz, joined the Indian community of Pandan for a special screening of the Tamil film Jana Nayagan at Ampang Point on Sunday evening, using the occasion to urge Malaysians to reject politics based solely on race and religion.
In a post shared on his official X account, Tengku Zafrul said one message from the film left a lasting impression on him: “When politics revolves only around religion and race, who actually benefits?”
The former minister, who is also Chairman of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) and President of the Badminton Association of Malaysia, said he initially attended the screening to watch actor Vijay’s latest work. However, the film’s themes struck a deeper chord with Malaysia’s current social and political climate.
“Politics of race and religion is easy to use to gain support, especially when people are convinced that those different from us are a threat,” he wrote. “Malaysia is indeed made up of different races, religions and cultures. But these differences should never be turned into weapons to divide us just to win votes.”
He stressed that while Malaysians are free to hold different political views, they remain citizens of one nation that belongs to everyone.
Tengku Zafrul thanked the Indian community of Pandan for the warm welcome and shared that watching Jana Nayagan together with passionate Vijay fans created a unique and lively atmosphere in the cinema.
Photos accompanying the post showed him interacting casually with families, children and members of the community at the cinema lobby, reflecting the inclusive spirit he advocated in his message.
Jana Nayagan, Vijay’s final film before fully focusing on politics, carries strong themes of standing against communal division and political bigotry — messages Tengku Zafrul said feel especially relevant to Malaysia today.
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