‘Dayangku' to be launched in Sabah
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

Brunei actress, Afria, while filming in Weston, Sabah.

Pg Hj Abu Bakar (R) and Pg Hjh Rokiah (L) with a fan in Weston.

The joint venture telemovie production "Dayangku" between Brunei's Phab Production and Sabah's Jaawat Pelangi Production Sdn Bhd is ready to be launched in Sabah tonight.

The launch is scheduled to take place in the office of Sabah's Jaawat Pelangi Production in Phase 3 Taman Sri Loyang, Kota Kinabalu at 8 pm.

It will be officiated by Datuk Karim Bujang, the Sabah Assistant Minister for Culture, Tourism and Environment, said Pg Hj Abu Bakar bin Pg DP Hj Mohamad, the executive producer of Phab Production.

A number of Barisan National leaders are expected to attend the launch as well as Sabah actors, actresses, film producers and activists, he added.

"The Sabah Member of Parliament Senator Datuk Hajah Dayangku Mahani Tun Pengiran Haji Ahmad Raffae, Special Affairs Director, Malaysian Ministry of Information Datuk Seri Panglima Hasbollah Hj Taha, MAS Sabah Manager, Encik Sobri, and Finas Sabah Director Deddy M Borhan are expected to attend the launching," he said.

Three local artistes, Pg Hj Abu Bakar, Afina Willy Edwin and Pg Hjh Rokiah Pg Hj Abdullah, acted in the joint-production that can be seen on Astro Television Channel and also on VCDs.

The telemovie also stars Malaysian leading artiste Diana Raffar and is directed by Azhar Mohd Yusof.

The production started last January 4 in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and the launching was officiated by Datuk Karim Bujang, the Sabah Minister for Culture, Tourism and Environment.

About 80 per cent of the drama production was done in Sabah in places of high Brunei Malay concentration such as Sipitang and Weston.

The rest of the filming was done in Brunei Darussalam for several days during the Chinese New Year.

The storyline of Dayangku revolves around Pengiran Matusin who escaped to Sabah decades ago to avoid confrontation over inheritance. Pg Badar, his elder brother had been questioning his rights, penned down by their father, Pengiran Rauf just before his death.

After being threatened by his brother, Pg Matusin ran away to Sabah assuming the name Pak Awang. He ventured from places to places as an entertainer reciting syair.

Dayangku Mayang who is visiting Sabah with her parents hears the traditional syair recital by Pak Awang - Bujang Si Gandam - and coaxes him into telling his life story.

Pak Awang reveals his ancestry which he has kept it a secret over the last thirty years.

It is a sheer coincidence that the father of Dayangku Mayang is Pg Badar who made Pak Awang to run away to Sabah years ago.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin