MEDIA RELEASE: Adelaide, Australia 3 December 2014 Australian Media

MEDIA RELEASE: Adelaide, Australia

3 December 2014

Australian media production company Switchflick Productions announces the release of the documentary ‘The Former First Lady’.

Two years in the making and filmed in Malaysia, the film traces the life of Malaysia’s former First Lady, YABhng Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali.

The Adelaide based company Swithflick Pty Ltd was given exclusive permission to film the wife of YABhng Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the 4th Prime Minister of Malaysia, for the documentary.

Including archival vision, the documentary follows the former First Lady from her early years where her parents made strategic choices for her, through the upheaval of World War II to her student days in Singapore, where she met her husband.

The title “former First Lady” is apt in many ways because Tun Dr Siti Hasmah was a pioneer in so many endeavors. After the war, she enrolled in a medical course in King Edward VII College of Medicine, one of the first Malay women to do so. Graduating from the faculty of Medicine in 1955 she became one of the first Malay woman doctors.

In practice the new doctor was confronted with the challenges of a war torn country and patients plagued by disease. This was the foundation for her life in public service. In the 1960s, she attended a public health certificate program in the University of Michigan, USA. Ten years later, she became the first woman to be appointed Medical Officer in the Maternal and Child Health Department, and in 1974, she was the first woman to be appointed the State Maternal and Child Health Officer.

On the domestic front Tun Dr Siti Hasmah married Mahatir in 1956. By 1964 her husband commenced a career in parliament. By 1976 he was serving as deputy Prime Minister and in 1981 was sworn in as the 4th Prime Minister of Malaysia, a position he was to occupy until 2003. In her position as wife of the Prime Minster Tun Dr Siti Hasmah continued to pioneer new endeavors. Her voluntary work and leadership in the fields of public health, literacy and drug abuse control have earned her great respect and many honours both at home and abroad.

“As an Australian production company we feel extremely privileged for the rare opportunity to research and produce a documentary on such a truly remarkable woman,” says Executive Producer, Vivian Wong.

51b Bagot Avenue, Mile end, SA 5031, Phone: Vivian 0401036459 Sophia: 0421009426 Email: [email protected] ABN: 94142462593 ACN: 142 462 593 Website: www.switchflickproductions.com.au Switchflick Pty Ltd 2014 ©

Switchflick Producer Sophia Hilmi said, “She is an inspiration to watch, a true icon and a great role model for everyone. We are honored to be given this opportunity”

Vivian from Adelaide and Sophia from Penang travelled to Malaysia and worked with a local Malaysian film crew to record the documentary. Post-production was completed in Adelaide. The production is supported by the National Film Department of Malaysia, the Multimedia University of Malaysia (where Tun Dr Siti Hasmah has served as chancellor), BAKTI, Malaysian Women Graduate Association, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Perdana Leadership Foundation, Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur and the University Malaya Library.

Interviews with key influences in her life include:

• her husband, former Prime Minister of Malaysia YABhg Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad • her son, Dato’ Paduka Mukhriz Mahathir Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry • a childhood friend – Datin Paduka Dr Sundraledchimy Maheswaran • a work colleague - BAKTI Welfare Chairman - YABhg Toh Puan Dato' Seri Hajjah Dr Aishah Ong • a Multimedia University student Jerry Olusegun Ojo - Former President of International Student, Multimedia University

Each have observed Siti Hasmah’s role as a wife, childhood friend, colleague and mother. The documentary gives insight into her life, upbringing, career, hopes for the future and more.

The much anticipated documentary is now available for distribution.

For further details and interview opportunities please contact:

Vivian Wong, Director of Switchflick Pty Ltd 0401 036 459 51b Bagot Avenue, Mile End SA 5031 [email protected]

About Switchflick Pty Ltd

Based in Adelaide, Australia, Switchflick Productions is a media production company that creates and produces informative, innovative and exceptional content.

Switchflick provide services for digital video production, social media marketing, documentaries and television that can be targeted for a national or international market.

Every project is important to us. Every project is unique.

Illustrations:

Caption: Swithchflick Producers Sophia Hilmi (left) and Vivian Wong (right) with Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali during filming for the documentary The Former First Lady

Caption: Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali during recording for Switchflick Production’s up- coming documentary The Former First Lady

Caption: Producers Sophia Hilmi (left) and Vivian Wong (right) with former Malaysian Prime Minister YABhng Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on the day of their interview.

Caption: Switchflick Producers Vivian and Sophia interview Malaysian Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, Dato’ Paduka Mukhriz Mahathir, for their documentary The Former First Lady

Caption: Executive Producers at the Adelaide-based Production Company Switchflick Productions, Sophia Hilmi (left) and Vivian Wong (right)