NEGARAKU on HISTORY BIO and Crime & Investigation Network

NEGARAKU on HISTORYâ„¢, BIO and Crime and Investigation Network
Over 30 spectacular programmes will air from 15 August to 12 September 2012

HISTORY™, BIO and Crime and Investigation Network celebrates Malaysia’s 55 years of independence with over 30 History seeking, Bio revealing, Crime investigating programmes lined-up from 15 August to 12 September 2012.

‘AETN All Asia Networks has been dedicated to bringing the best of human stories to life with a wide range of top quality, award-winning programming. As part of our contunious efforts to profile Malaysia to the world, AETN will be showcasing the country’s rich and diverse culture throughout the month of August inconjuction with the 55th Independence Day. Viewers can catch this spectacular line-up of programmes across our three channels: HISTORY™, BIO and Crime and Investigation Network ,” said Louis Boswell, General Manager of AETN All Asia Networks.

HISTORYâ„¢ looks to capture the diversity and rich culture of Malaysia with three brand new programmes, kick-starting with 1941: The Fall Of Penang premiering on HISTORYâ„¢ (Astro Channel 555) this August 19, Sunday at 10 pm. This one hour documentary travels back to the early morning of 11th September 1941, Penang Island, a two century old British Fortress of the Far East and once known as The Paradise Island, was bombed to its core by the Imperial Japanese Air Force.

Up to that point, Penang – a flourishing port connecting South East Asia to the Indian Ocean – knew little about the war and a false sense of security circulated around the island. When the planes did come, residents crowded the streets unaware of what was about to happen. As the reign of Japanese terror unleashed itself upon the local population, Penang Island soon found themselves abandoned by British Forces.

Followed by Last Journey to Sarawak on August 26 at 10 pm. This is a story about forgotten heroes. Today, many unmarked graves of Iban Trackers can be found across Malaysia. Nameless and faceless, these fallen warriors were never given the proper burial they deserved.

During his active service in the Malaysian army, Robert Rizal’s mission was to seek and eliminate the communist terrorists. Today after retirement, he has an entirely different mission. He wants these courageous fighters to be given a proper burial.

Despite their important contribution to the safety of the nation, Rizal believes the sacrifices of the Iban Trackers and Sarawak Rangers have almost been forgotten. For some of the families and relatives of the fallen heroes, their last ever contact was before they left for Malaya 60 years ago.
Last journey to Sarawak follows the struggle of Rizal, local ranger regiments, the police and medical personnel to reunite the remains of 21 Iban Trackers and Sarawak Rangers back to their homeland Sarawak and reburied in a heroes grave in Kuching.

Special Forces: Malaysia GGK a special one-hour documentary will premiere on September 2 at 10 pm. Malaysia’s Grup Gerak Khai (GGK) are the first men on the ground behind enemy lines. They gained fame and recognition worldwide after successfully beating communist rebels in the 1960s in battles fought deep in the Malaysian rain forests. Toughened by one of the world’s most difficult training regimes, GGK commandos are trained to infiltrate enemy held territory via air, sea or land. They are experts in unconventional warfare, including sabotage, counter-terrorism and intelligence gathering. But what makes them stand out is their ability to fight in some of the world’s most extreme jungles. To earn the coveted Green Beret, recruits must go through three months relentless physical and psychological torture that will push them to their absolute limits and break all but the best.

More exciting documentaries are showing specially for Malaysian viewers, synopsis below:

Art Of Faith: Islam
17th August 2012, Friday @ 10 pm on HISTORYâ„¢ (Astro Channel 555)

Art of Faith is a visually sumptuous series filmed in High Definition exploring the architecture and art of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The three hour-long films, presented and narrated by the broadcaster John McCarthy, visit many of the greatest and most significant religious buildings of the world.

Islam includes the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, mosques in Kairouan and Cordoba, both the Haghia Sophia church and the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, the Taj Mahal at Agra and the madrassas of Samarkand.

Hidden Cities: Malaysia
17th August 2012, Friday @ 11 pm on HISTORYâ„¢ (Astro Channel 555)

Follow presenter Anthony Morse journeys beyond the glittering façade of Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur to uncover some hidden gems. He pushes off the north-western coast to explore a remote island called Jerajak and finds out why it was once known as Malaysia’s Alcatraz; heads to the old town of Penang to uncover one of the region’s largest British forts; experiences the haunting atmosphere of a mysterious English castle in the city of Ipoh; remaps an entire ‘Trench City’ from World War II; and helps dig up evidences of what could be one of South East Asia’s oldest civilisations in Kedah’s Bujang Valley.

Rising Sun Over Malaya
24th August 2012, Friday @ 10 pm on HISTORYâ„¢ (Astro Channel 555)

The Second World War in Malaya from 1941-1945 was a time of darkness and despair – where innocent lives were lost and blood ran freely. The Japanese ruled with an iron hand, slaughtering tens of thousands of Chinese citizens. They forced young women to work as sex slaves, and tricked others into working on the notorious ‘Death Railway’. The people of Malaya struggled for survival. When the Japanese surrendered in 1945, Malaya plunged into a period of turmoil that brought it to the brink of civil war. But amidst the fire and ruins, sparks of resilience and courage grew. The painful war experience gave a great impetus to a new awakening. “Rising Sun Over Malaya” tells this little known story through the eyes of the people who experienced the occupation first hand.

The Malayan Emergency
31st August 2012, Friday @ 2 pm on HISTORYâ„¢ (Astro Channel 555)

This documentary features a unique war in history; a bloody struggle waged by the Communist Party of Malaya against thousands of Malayan, British and other Commonwealth forces in order to create a Communist Republic. Here Communist guerilla tactics were overcome by new battle techniques – the resettlement of 600,000 squatters into new villages, winning the ‘hearts and minds’ of the people and the use of intelligence in covert operations.

This two hour special makes extensive use of original archive footage and photographs, while former intelligence specialists, policemen, soldiers and terrorists offer vivid accounts of a war that lasted twelve years and cost thousands of lives.

Hidden Cities: Sarawak
31st August 2012, Friday @ 10 pm on HISTORYâ„¢ (Astro Channel 555)

Sarawak – Malaysia’s gateway to the wild frontiers of untouched Borneo. Home to over two million people from more than 20 indigenous groups. But hidden beneath the tropical calm lay remnants of its turbulent past.

Sarawak has been forged by the fires of war, colonialism and rebellion… And is even said to be once an ancient land of magic and ritual.

In this episode of Hidden Cities, host Anthony Morse explores the forgotten kingdom of a former British adventure. The White Rajahs of Sarawak were the only Caucasian kings to rule over a dominion in South-east Asia. Moving southeast from the capital Kuching to Sri Aman, our host reveals the secrets behind a disappearing headhunting tribe, the Ibans. We also learn about the tragic story of early Chinese gold miners in Bau district as well as the healing rituals of the Melanau people.

As one of the most culturally diverse states in the world, Sarawak promises to thrill with the richness of stories hidden just beneath its surface.

Vat 69: Malaysia’s Very Able Troopers
7th September 2012, Friday @ 10 pm on HISTORYâ„¢ (Astro Channel 555)

When Malaysia faced another communist insurgency in 1969, the VAT 69 Commando unit was formed to engage the communists in guerilla warfare. With pioneers trained by the British SAS, VAT 69 commandos matured into tough jungle fighters, suffered some losses and almost 20 years later, the communists surrendered, largely thanks to VAT 69 Commando.

Haze Hell Over Asia
14th September 2012, Friday @ 10 pm on HISTORYâ„¢ (Astro Channel 555)

September 1997… In Indonesia forest fires rage uncontrollably across an area the size of 4 million football pitches. A noxious yellow smoke cloud smothers a vast region of SE Asia, even reaching as far as northern Australia. It’s called – the Haze. In Malaysia, the human and economic damage is catastrophic – and Prime Minister Dr Mahathir searches desperately for a solution. We tell the story of one of the worst environmental disasters in history for the first time, the stories of people who lived through the deadly haze attack and the heroic firefighters who fought to douse the fires. The 97 haze was a turning point – a pivotal moment that forced both politicians and scientists to join forces to defeat the menace of Asia’s Killer Haze.

Malaysia Revisited: Building Greener
14th September 2012, Friday @ 11 pm on HISTORYâ„¢ (Astro Channel 555)

In Malaysia Revisited, we discover how the effects of climate change has given us more reasons to construct greener buildings and to give old shop houses a second chance.

Architects Ken Yeang and Serina Hijjas talk about their respective green buildings in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. In Kuching, join us for Friday prayers at an eco-mosque while in Kuala Lumpur and the UNESCO World Heritage City of George Town, we see how old shop houses get a second chance as hotel accommodation, retail shops and cafes.

Malaysia Revisited: The Rice way
14th September 2012, Friday @ 11.30 pm on HISTORYâ„¢ (Astro Channel 555)

More than 90% of the world’s rice paddy is grown and consumed in Asia. Join us on a culinary journey into the many communities in Malaysia that celebrate and revere rice.

In Kuala Lumpur, we get a sneak peek into a hotel kitchen preparing a banquet for 400 guests and also show why Hindus revere the sun once a year. The UNESCO World Heritage Cities of Malacca and Penang celebrate Chinese New Year with prosperous cakes while in Gemas, Negeri Sembilan we see four villages cook up a wedding feast. Meanwhile, it’s cooking and brewing in Sarawak as the Bidayuh celebrate the end of the rice harvest. Back in Penang, we follow the herb trail to a healthy conclusion.

Malaysian Drug Mules
15th August 2012, Wednesday @ 9 pm on Crime and Investigation Network (Astro Channel 732)

Crime Investigation Asia: Malaysian Drug Mules recounts the police discovery of a recurring pattern in criminal deception by a Nigerian drug cartel. According to the Malaysian Police Narcotics Department deputy director Othman Harun, hundreds of Malaysian women have been tricked or coerced into smuggling drugs by a group of Nigerians, using money, luxury and even sex, to entice their victims.

Asia’s Underworld: Loan Shark
15th August 2012, Wednesday @ 10 pm on Crime and Investigation Network (Astro Channel 732)

They offer easy money with a quick loan, thousands in cash, no questions asked. But when a borrower can’t keep up with the payment terms, loan sharks strike mercilessly. Among the loan sharks’ weapons: blackmail, kidnapping, extortion and violence. Charging interest that is nothing short of criminal, these illegal moneylenders are fearless of the law. That is of course, until they get caught. The violence escalates in the high profile case of the Krystal-9 gang of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, who ruthlessly chained up debtors and tortured them for months. Witness the havoc that loan sharks wreak on society with testimonies from politicians, victims, police and the loan sharks themselves.

Asia’s Underworld: Human Traffickers
15th August 2012, Wednesday @ 10.30 pm on Crime and Investigation Network (Astro Channel 732)

Luring victims with grandiose promises of profitable employment, deceit and cunning are the name of the game for human traffickers. The lucrative industry of selling people like property is believed to churn billions of dollars every year. The UN estimates nearly 2.5 million people from 127 countries are being trafficked around the world, forced into prostitution, begging syndicates or sold as cheap labour. We zoom in on Southeast Asian hotspots spanning Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia where illegal dealers, helpless victims and fierce authorities reveal true accounts of this intricate crime world.

The Murder of Canny Ong
22nd August 2012, Wednesday @ 9 pm on Crime and Investigation Network (Astro Channel 732)

Abducted in an upmarket shopping centre, a young Malaysian IT analyst is later tortured and murdered in a tragic case that would shock the nation.

Partners In Crime: Insect Talk
22nd August 2012, Wednesday @ 10 pm on Crime and Investigation Network (Astro Channel 732)

In Insect talk, Dr Nazni Wasi Ahmad, Malaysia’s leading forensic entomologist finds herself at the intersection of the shady world of crime and the secretive world of insects.

Asia’s Underworld: Pirates
22nd August 2012, Wednesday @ 10.30 pm on Crime and Investigation Network (Astro Channel 732)

Marauders of the high seas. Outlaws of the ocean. They’ve been called many things, but these modern-day pirates are nothing like their storybook depictions. These are Southeast Asian pirates that are not to be trifled with. From deep within the Straits of Malacca, we meet real Acehnese pirates who rob ships and boats for a living, armed with their weapons of choice. Equally fearless are the Coast Guards that patrol the high seas. We sink into the increasingly dangerous world of sea piracy with real life testimonies from victims, perpetrators and law enforcement agents.

Al Maunah: The Malaysian Arms Heist
29th August 2012, Wednesday @ 9 pm on Crime and Investigation Network (Astro Channel 732)

It was Malaysia’s largest military weapon heist that turned into a hostage crisis and a 5-day standoff with the police and army.

On July 2nd 2000, 15 men disguised as high-ranking army officers stole over 100 military-grade weapons and thousands of ammunition rounds from two Malaysian army camps. Police suspect the weapons were for regional terrorist groups. But not far from the crime scenes, Sauk villagers report gunfire behind their school.

Two Special Branch police officers were sent to investigate but end up as hostages instead. In the unfolding crisis, more hostages are taken, two of them tortured and murdered.

Malaysian police and army intelligence reveal the Al-Ma’unah, an Islamic deviationist cult responsible for the heist and hostages. Psychological warfare is used to persuade the cult to surrender peacefully. But an ultimatum from Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to end the hostage crisis by Day 5, leads to a police-army confrontation with Mohamad Amin, leader of Al-Ma’unah.

Can police commando Abdul Razak bin Mohd Yusof and Army Field Commander Zaini Mohamad Said complete their rescue and recovery mission with zero casualties?

This gripping story of Malaysia’s largest military heist unfolds through re-enactments and in-depth interviews with Razak, Zaini, the hostage and Islamic cult experts.

1975: KL Under Siege
29th August 2012, Wednesday @ 10 pm on Crime and Investigation Network (Astro Channel 732)

In 1975, the AIA Building was considered the most modern of buildings in Kuala Lumpur. Many foreign embassies and consulates had their offices here including the U.S Consulate and the Embassy of Sweden.

On 4th of August 1975, five men walked into the AIA Building. Riding the lift to Level 9, they stormed the floor. By the end of the day, four people were seriously wounded and 53 people held as hostages. The masterminds of the siege were members of the Japanese Red Army, one of the most notorious militant groups in the world.

The militants demanded for the release of their comrades imprisoned in Japan. Would the Japanese government agree to negotiate with the militants? The Malaysian authorities must do all they can to rescue the hostages before it was too late.

Using archival footage, re-enactments and interviews with hostages, negotiators and a Japanese Red Army militant, join us for a day-to day account of the building siege that took Malaysia by surprise.

The Banker Who Knew Too Much
5th September 2012, Wednesday @ 9 pm on Crime and Investigation Network (Astro Channel 732)

In the monsoons of July, 1983, the body of a young male is discovered with a towelling cord around his neck, in the overgrown plantations of Hong Kong’s New Territories. The ID on the dead man is Jalil Ibrahim, a young banker with from Malaysia on a business trip to Hong Kong. As the Police study his correspondence, they begin to suspect that Jalil may have discovered fatal secrets . Revisiting the case 27 years later, The Banker who knew too much tells a tale of lies, deceit, fraud and cold-blooded murder set against the backdrop of one of Hong Kong’s biggest bank scandals.

A Brotherhood of Bandits
5th September 2012, Wednesday @ 10 pm on Crime and Investigation Network (Astro Channel 732)

A Brotherhood of Bandits chronicles the thrilling cat and mouse game played out between detectives Amidun and Azizan Anand and Malaysia’s most notorious organized crime ring- The Mamak Gang. Through interviews with the detectives, a criminologist and the gang’s defending lawyer, the film takes us through one particular crime which went down in history as the most audacious, well-planned heist the country had ever seen; the theft of 300 kilos of gold bullion on the eve of the nation’s independence day.

Jean Perera: The Beauty Queen Murder
12th September 2012, Wednesday @ 9 pm on Crime and Investigation Network (Astro Channel 732)

On the night of April 6, 1979, Jean Perera Sinnappa, a 31-year-old former Malaysian beauty queen was found brutally murdered in her car off the Federal Highway near Kuala Lumpur. Her brother-in-law and lover, Karthigesu Sivapakiam was found unconscious behind the car.

LUSTY WIDOW:THE JEAN PERERA STORY is an evocative documentary on the investigation and trial of Karthigesu who was found guilty of murdering Jean, sentenced to death, but later acquitted. Through re-enactments, computer generated imagery and interviews with key witnesses, this story intricately pieces together the evidence in one of the most sensational Malaysian murder trials of the 1970s.

Mas Selamat, The Fugitive Terrorist
12th September 2012, Wednesday @ 10 pm on Crime and Investigation Network (Astro Channel 732)

When one of the most wanted terrorists escapes from a high security detention centre in Singapore, the whole region is on high alert.

The escapee, Mas Selamat Kastari is leader of the notorious Jemaah Islamiyah: a terror organisation based in Singapore and linked to Al Qaeda. Jemaah Islamiyah has carried out deadly bombings in South East Asia – and Mas Selemat is known to have devised plans aimed at destroying major landmarks in Singapore.

The Singapore army and police launch the biggest manhunt in the history of the country to track down the fugitive – but Mas Selamat has slipped under the radar, and is in hiding somewhere in southern Malaysia. The Malaysian police must find and capture this fanatical jihadist – before it’s too late. The film highlights the story of how the Malaysian police tracked down this elusive fugitive – using exclusive footage, shown for the first time, shot at the moment of his capture.

My Ghost Story Asia
Premieres on 16th August 2012, Every Thursday @ 10 pm on BIO (Astro Channel 731)

My Ghost Story Asia feature true accounts with the supernatural; from chance encounters in haunted spaces to deep and personal experiences. The stories from the first season are compiled from Singapore and Malaysia, shared by people who have experienced them first-hand.

Sudirman Arshad
18th August 2012, Saturday @ 8 pm on BIO (Astro Channel 731)

On March 19, 1989, a diminutive Malaysian singer rocked the prestigious Royal Albert Hall, London, with one of the most stirring performances of the evening, and walked away as Asia’s Best Performer at the inaugural Asian Music Awards. Pitted against more famous and accomplished singers from the region, Sudirman Arshad endearingly and artistically rendered an originally-composed number and mesmerized his audience, just as he had always done from the age of 12.

Multi-talented Sudirman was a lawyer, television host, writer, cartoonist, actor, entrepreneur, and became the only Asian singer to record an English single at London’s Abbey Road Studios, and have it released in Britain and the US. In 1985, Sudirman drew a massive 100,000-crowd to his concert on one of Kuala Lumpur’s busiest roads. Dubbed the Chow Kit Road concert, the feat has never been matched or replicated.

But in July 1991, Sudirman suddenly collapsed during a concert, and seven months later, was dead. He was only 37. By then, Sudirman had won every major music and entertainment award in Malaysia, and the hearts of thousands of fans from Singapore to Tokyo, from New Zealand to Hawaii.

Through interviews, photos and clips from Sudirman’s performances, we bring you the compelling story of one of Malaysia’s most prolific singers who lived, worked and died for his craft, his country and his fans.

Siti Nurhaliza
18th August 2012, Saturday @ 9 pm on BIO (Astro Channel 731)

Siti Nurhaliza is a household name in the Nusantara Region. Her talent is celebrated beyond Malaysian shores and she has been awarded many times over. The first half of this Pahang gem’s life wasn’t always easy. By the age of nine Siti understood the meaning of providing for her family.

Siti Nurhaliza’s prowess in the vocal department captured her listeners even from a young age. When Siti won Bintang RTM 1995, record companies were bidding for her. Her eponymous debut album- Siti Nurhaliza was released in 1996, however the response was slow at first. Siti only 16 at the time may have appeared naïve, but she was rooted in her principles. Against industry standards and expectations, Siti stood her ground and set principles driven limitations to much criticism. Siti juggled work and school at the beginning of her career and nearly did not compete in a popular awards show, Juara Lagu that eventually turned Siti into an overnight star. After Juara Lagu 1996 there was no stopping her. School was over and career took centre stage.

Siti’s rural image and taste drew attention throughout her career. Like in many things Siti overcome it by improving herself and by sticking to her principles. Siti’s father’s decision in not signing for Artist and Management with her record label meant that the family could manage her. Under the management of her brother and sister in law, Siti’s career bloomed. By 1997 Siti Nurhaliza had a remarkable breakthrough in Indonesia. Her participation in international competitions and events had also given rise to her name in parts of Asia.

When Siti finally found the man of her life, she faced disapprovals from those who backed her up, although she eventually won her family over, her fans were harder to convince. Siti expressed her feelings the best way she knew, whether she has won back support from all her fans or not, Siti continues to wow her audience with her sounds and stories.

Tycoons Of Asia: Tony Fernandes
25th August 2012, Saturday @ 8 pm on BIO (Astro Channel 731)

Tony Fernandes, ‘Forbes Businessman of the year 2010’, is a maverick, a risk taker and a great entrepreneur. Whilst his mother pioneered the direct-marketing Tupperware business in Malaysia, Tony’s father was a doctor with the World Health Organization, and had come from a family of doctors. The idea to pursue a medical career had been fostered in Tony by his doting mother, since he was a child and Tony was sent to Epsom College; a boarding school renowned for producing doctors in the UK, but his interests lay elsewhere. At Epsom, Tony became a great sportsman and emerged an independent young man who rejected the idea of studying medicine.
In 1990, Tony began his love affair with the music industry and later became Warner Music Malaysia’s Managing Director at the age of 28. Whilst instrumental in transforming the Malaysian music landscape, Tony was also a leader, nurturing the seeds for his success; his people!
In 2001, with piracy on the rise and politics in the office, Tony made his escape, risking everything by taking over an ailing full service airline, AirAsia and relaunching it as a low cost carrier, that would challenge the stalwarts of Asian aviation. AirAsia, Asia’s most successful low cost carrier, has redefined air travel for Asians and expanded itself through Tony’s pioneering work in cross border joint ventures with Thailand and Indonesia. Tony has become a global brand with his Tune empire and bold appearance on the world stage of Formula One with his underdog team, Lotus Racing.
We learn about the challenges that Tony faced in getting his airline off the ground as well as one of the biggest and longest challenges of his career – getting the route to Singapore. Known for his outspoken and controversial nature, we take a deeper look at the man who has become a legend, the target of much love and much hate.

Shoot For The Sky
25th August 2012, Saturday @ 9 pm on BIO (Astro Channel 731)

Shoot For The Sky is about photographers Jonathan and Cede and their quest for unique photographs of Sabah from the air. We follow their dramatic journey from the ground to one of the highest mountains in South East Asia by an unconventional mode of transport: paramotor. With limited flying experience, their journey will be a bumpy one. With constantly changing weather patterns, mechanical failures and tricky terrain, will they succeed in flying to the peak?

P. Ramlee
1st September 2012, Saturday @ 8 pm on BIO (Astro Channel 731)

P. Ramlee was the inimitable, charismatic and multi talented Malaysian screen legend who epitomized Malay cinema and had a huge following in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia in the Fifties and Sixties, whose reversal of fortune in the Seventies left him scorned and forgotten by his fans. Yet long after his death in 1973, there was a seismic resurgence of interest in his films and a clamour for everything ‘P. Ramlee’ which has endured to this day. His is a story that even P Ramlee, the master storyteller himself, could not have dreamed up. Today, loved by young and old alike, his films and songs have attained cult status in Malaysia and are regularly screened on TV, gaining him new generations of fans. In his final years, broke and broken, he had despaired of ever recovering his magic and getting the recognition he craved. In what must be one of life’s little ironies, in death…he became a superstar.

Mahathir Part I
8th September 2012, Saturday @ 8 pm on BIO (Astro Channel 731)

With exclusive access to Dr. Mahathir, HISTORY uncovers the life of Mahathir Mohamad from his early days in a small rural town, alongside life under Japanese occupation during World War II, to his emerging political activism protesting British colonialism, and his meteoric rise in politics that would see him serving as Malaysia’s Prime Minister for a staggering 22 years.

Mahathir Part II
8th September 2012, Saturday @ 9 pm on BIO (Astro Channel 731)

Mahathir modernised Malaysia and instilled confidence and pride in his Malay race but power struggles, crises and scandals would plague his illustrious career. See how a man so fearless and powerful, who makes bold outrageous statements, would suddenly break down in tears at the podium.