The Big Durian(2003)

The Big Durian is a documentary that revisits a shocking 1987 incident in Kuala Lumpur when a soldier opened fire with an M16 in the Chow Kit district, sparking citywide panic and fears of racial violence. The film explores the soldier's motivations and the broader tensions gripping Malaysia at that volatile moment in history. Director Rashid Sibir interviews 23 Malaysians—a mix of real witnesses and fictional characters—to piece together what happened that night and why the nation was so deeply unsettled. Through these varied perspectives, The Big Durian examines a pivotal moment that revealed the fragility of Malaysia's social fabric and the anxieties simmering beneath the surface of everyday life.