Pusing Became a Key Location for the Film Leftenan Adnan (2000)
Pusing is located in the Batu Gajah district, Perak, approximately 5 km from Batu Gajah and 14 km from Ipoh. The residents here are mostly of Hakka Chinese descent, with minorities of Malay, Indian, and Sikh communities. Pusing was once a town rich in tin ore. Its development was driven solely by tin mining, which declined following the drop in tin prices during the 1970s.
Did you know that Pusing town was a primary filming location for the movie Leftenan Adnan, released in 2000? Director Aziz M. Osman chose Pusing because its rows of shophouses still resembled the Japanese occupation era, circa 1941. In 1934, Kampung Sungai Ramal was visited by British military personnel seeking qualified local youths to be recruited into the Malay Regiment. Several village youths, including Adnan Bin Saidi, were interested in joining the army, but his parents did not approve. Determined, Adnan and several friends left the village and headed to the military training camp in Port Dickson. There, they registered and underwent physical and mental training to qualify as soldiers. The courage and determination shown by Adnan earned him the title of best recruit, and he was subsequently absorbed into the Malay Regiment. In a short time, Adnan was promoted to Colour Sergeant in 1937. That same year, he was also selected to participate in the coronation ceremony of King George VI in London.
Shortly after, Adnan was promoted again to the rank of Lieutenant. During the Second World War, Lieutenant Adnan Saidi was killed while defending Malaya against the Japanese army. The battle at Bukit Candu, located in Pasir Panjang, Singapore, witnessed the fall of a Malay hero who was greatly feared by the enemy. Azri Iskandar was originally cast as Lieutenant Adnan before being removed due to disciplinary issues. Azri Iskandar claimed he was forced to follow the producer's and director's instructions blindly, despite factual discrepancies in the film's production. He was replaced by Hairie Othman, who had to reshoot 12 scenes previously performed by Azri.
