On the 12th of March 2022, what was meant to be a fun hike up Gunung Tahan turned tragically fatal for one hiker.

Raja Azlan Shah Raja Abdul Aziz, 51 at the time of the incident, lost his life on the mountain, leaving behind his wife and three children.

Four years on, his wife, Nor Zaharah Sham Shamsul Bahar also known as Zara, continues her search to better understand what truly happened during the expedition that led to her husband’s death.

This documentary follows the life of Raja Azlan Shah, a Malaysian outdoor enthusiast who tragically lost his life during his first-ever mountain expedition with friends at Gunung Tahan. In the aftermath of his passing, his wife has spent the past three years seeking clarity. Despite her efforts, differing recollections and gaps in information have made it difficult to form a complete picture of the events that unfolded on the mountain. These uncertainties have led her to question whether more could have been done, and whether the outcome might have been different.

As she prepares to retrace his steps to Gunung Tahan, this documentary explores the fragments he left behind: the people present, the decisions made, and the circumstances surrounding his final journey. Through interviews with family members and experts, documentation, and her ongoing search for understanding, the film aims to carefully and objectively revisit the events leading up to his death while honouring his memory.
 

We have a unique opportunity to look through the lens of Raja Azlan Shah’s family. Documenting this story through their perspective, we are committed to presenting a careful and responsible reconstruction of the events surrounding his final hike. Through interviews with family members and experts, verified documents, and thoughtful re-enactments, we aim to maintain integrity and clarity as we piece together what happened on Gunung Tahan. We have pledged our own funds to start this project. However, we need additional funds to begin filming and complete post-production.

We have chosen to crowdfund because stories like this deserve to be told openly and responsibly. This documentary is about raising awareness and presenting a careful, fact-based reconstruction of what happened on Gunung Tahan. By supporting this project, the public becomes part of an effort to examine the realities of high-risk hiking, encourage informed conversations about safety and preparedness, and ensure that this tragedy is remembered with clarity, integrity, and purpose.

Raja Azlan Shah’s death on Gunung Tahan remains one of the most difficult hiking tragedies in recent years. Not only because of the loss itself, but because of the lingering questions surrounding how events unfolded. Three years on, his family continues to encounter differing accounts and gaps in information, reinforcing the need to carefully retrace what happened.

These are the questions at the heart of this documentary. As his family prepares to retrace the same route Raja Azlan Shah took on his first and last mountain expedition, the importance of reflection feels more urgent than ever.

At a time when conversations around safety, preparedness, and responsibility in outdoor expeditions are increasingly relevant, this is the right moment to revisit Raja Azlan Shah’s story. Through measured, objective storytelling, the documentary seeks not to assign blame, but to shed light on the realities of high-risk hiking and explore how greater awareness and accountability can help prevent future loss.

With the recent spate of deaths of hikers in Malaysia, this has cast a spotlight on the hiking community and the dangers of hiking.

This documentary aims to revisit a curious case from 2022, when a group of friends ventured into Gunung Tahan but one sadly did not return.

We hope to provide accounts of the events leading up to the hike and the possibilities of what may have caused this tragic incident.

By contributing, all of the funds received will go towards producing this project. We have 6 reward tiers to choose from.

We target to raise RM 20,000 which will be allocated towards paying the crew and expenses in finishing the documentary. To show our commitment to this project, we have selected FIXED FUNDING - meaning if we do not hit our target, we will not be keeping any amount raised and your money gets returned.

We would appreciate your help by sharing this campaign with your friends, family and colleagues. Every bit of attention we get will bring us closer to reaching our target!

Here is the cost breakdown of the funds raised:

Our first crowdfunded documentary, The Tides Will Decide, was successfully completed and had its world premiere at the 2025 Malaysia International Film Festival. It was also nominated for Best Documentary at the 34th Festival Filem Malaysia and screened internationally in Indonesia at the 2025 ASEAN For The Peoples Conference. This demonstrates how public support can bring powerful stories to life.

By backing this project, you’re helping to:

• Revisit the events leading up to the tragedy, as well as the developments after.

• Ensure that the story serves as a reminder of safety when it comes to trekking outdoors.

To this date, we have produced several feature films and TV series. Our works are available on Netflix, Astro and Viu. We are confident in completing this project within the set time frame.

However, we've noted several risks that may arise.

• Postponement of project (moderate) - Unpredictable weather, clashing schedules, delays. We have kept our team compact, so this will make it easier to improvise and work around any issues.
   
• Loss of access to subject (low) - Breakdown in communication, fatality. Our director has a personal relationship with the subject and it has remained strong for many years. We plan to shoot over 2 weeks which is a fairly short span of time to keep hold of our subject.
   
• Project abandonment (low) - Insufficient funds, loss of interest. We have personally pledged our own funds to start this project and are confident in completing it. The Tides Will Decide is a story that our director has been working on for some time and has a personal interest in seeing it through. In the event that we fall short of funds, we have prepared a contingency amount.