Actors want film on graft to resume screening

By the Editorial Team · Friday, September 18, 2026

Actors Esma Daniel and Datuk Adi Putra have called for the film *Konspirasi*, which focuses on corruption, to be screened again after it was pulled from cinemas just one week after its release. They argue that the film’s removal undermines efforts to address important social issues, while the production company has cited internal reasons for the withdrawal without providing further details.

Actors Esma Daniel and Datuk Adi Putra have urged for the reinstatement of the screening of the film *Konspirasi*, which addresses the issue of corruption. The film, directed by Ghaz Abu Bakar, premiered in cinemas on May 21 but was withdrawn after one week. Both actors emphasized the importance of supporting local films that explore significant societal challenges, noting that corruption should be examined from multiple perspectives.

Esma Daniel described it as unjust for a movie conveying a critical message about the risks associated with corruption to be taken off the screens. Meanwhile, the production company Elepflim and Entertainment stated that the decision to halt the film’s screening was made internally and was not influenced by external parties. The company cited various situational factors but did not elaborate further on the reasons behind the withdrawal.

In other entertainment news, the horror film *Khadam* has seen expanding success across Asia following a strong box office showing in Malaysia and Brunei. Opening on June 11 in over 120 cinemas in both countries, the film had grossed more than RM5 million in Malaysia by early July. Directed by Shamyl Othman, *Khadam* is set in the 1950s and centers on Melor, a mother who inherits a supernatural entity after her mother's death. Produced by Red Communications and Komet Productions, the film began screening in Indonesia on Wednesday and is scheduled for release in Hong Kong on October 8.

*Khadam* features a cast including Indonesian actress Aghniny Haque, Datuk Remy Ishak, Siti Khadijah Halim, Zarra Zhaff, Karl’ El, and Jun Lojong.

In a separate development, singer Siti Nordiana has reported a TikTok account for circulating an artificially edited image of her in a revealing outfit, embracing a man. The 41-year-old artist, alerted to the image by a follower, called it offensive and humiliating, urging the public to report the account to protect others from similar misuse. Other high-profile figures, such as Neelofa, Mira Filzah, and Siti Khadijah, have previously been targeted by manipulated images using face-altering filters and deepfake technology.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.