18 May – FINAS Chairman Zakaria Abdul Hamid recently stressed that U-Wei Haji Saari's movie could still be in the run for future funding even if it had been turned down this time. The Chairman of the National Film Development Corporation (FINAS), who was asked to comment on the filmmaker's recent open letter to the government agency CEO Ahmad Idham, stated that everything is considered good based on the proposal submitted to FINAS earlier. "If not selected this time, the same work can still be picked up in the future," he said to Malaysiakini. Zakaria stated that only six were considered out of the 70 applications received by FINAS that the agency considered are in line with the needs of the current theme as well as the provisions set by them. "There is no such thing as being rejected, except for those who do not meet the conditions, for example, a troubled production, lack of experience, and other factors," he added.
U-Wei previously expressed his frustration that his proposed film, "Wangi Jadi Saksi" was not chosen by FINAS for national film funding after undergoing the pitching process that he claimed to have gone well. The "Hanyut" director then demanded an explanation from Idham, whom he believed has a role in making the decision.