GEORGE TOWN: The internationally acclaimed Chinese movie, Road to Dawn, was shown for the first time in Malaysia in a charity premiere yesterday. The movie about Dr Sun Yat Sen, filmed entirely in Penang, had its world premiere in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Yesterday’s event was held to benefit the Wawasan Open University (WOU) Chancellor’s scholarship fund.

Renowned Taiwanese actor Winston Chao Wen-Hsuan, who starred in the film as Dr Sun, told a news conference that the charity premiere clo-sed a circle that began about a century ago.

"About 100 years ago, Malaysia helped Dr Sun to achieve his revolutionary mission. Today, we are helping Malaysia by raising money for this education fund," he said.

So far RM4 million had been donated to the fund, set up to finance WOU’s student support programme. The Yeap family — Yeap Leong Hai and Yeap Leong Chooi — the E&O Group and CP Landmark Sdn Bhd have donated RM1 million each.

WOU owns exclusive copyright to the movie for five years in Malaysia and Brunei, and plans to use proceeds to finance the programme.

Deputy Information Minister Datuk Seri Chia Kwang Chye said WOU hopes to raise about RM50 million over the next 10 years.

Road to Dawn is the first movie about Dr Sun’s time in Penang and other parts of Malaya, drumming up support and planning the second Guangzhou Uprising of 1911. Though it failed, it sparked the Wuchang Uprising that cost the Qing dynasty its throne and led to the formation of the Republic of China. It also recognises the support he received from the Chinese community in Penang and the rest of Malaya.

The film was directed by Hong Kong-based Derek Chiu. It is the first China-produced movie to be filmed in Malaysia.