Gerak Khas (transl. Special Forces) is a Malaysianpolice procedural television drama series broadcast on TV2 and TV3.[3] The series follows the crime-fighting efforts of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), led by SAC Datuk Helmi (Yusof Haslam), from murders to terrorism and many other crimes committed in Malaysia. Gerak Khas ran from April 5, 1999 until March 27, 2021, spanning 20 seasons and 1054 episodes, making it the longest-running primetime drama series on Malaysian television.[3]
Datuk Yusof Haslam directed both the series and its film adaptations, which are produced by his company, Skop Productions. Gerak Khas underwent major changes to its cast members, with the exceptions of Yusof, AC Mizal, A. Galak, Farid Amirul, Deen Maidin, Shaharon Anuar and Abby Abadi, who were the original cast members. The series received recognition from The Malaysia Book of Records as the country's longest running television drama series.[3][4]
The series went on hiatus in 2011 after the 13th season finished airing that year. Metro Skuad, a similar true crime series (also produced by Yusof), was created as a replacement to Gerak Khas and ran for two seasons, airing from 2012 to 2013. Gerak Khas was subsequently revived in 2014, and its 14th season (the first season in three years) began airing on 14 February.[5][6][7]
In 2018, it was reported that AC Mizal would reprise his role as Mazlan after he left the series in 2002, but he declined, telling Haslam he will "let his previous involvement become nostalgic".[8] Reruns of the 11th and 15th seasons were broadcast on TV2 from December 2019 until January 2021.
Due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic and the Malaysian movement control order, Gerak Khas was suspended from airing in February 2020, resulting in the cessation of its production. It was replaced by reruns of the 19th season, before filming resumed in late June 2020.
Yusof Haslam announced in an interview with Berita Harian that Gerak Khas will end production after its 20th and final season. It began airing on TV3 on December 4, 2020, under the title Gerak Khas The Finale.[9][10][11] After the series' conclusion, a spin-off series, Gerak Khas Undercover began airing on TV3, starting October 1, 2021.
Cast and characters
Actors featured in Gerak Khas (not including the movies) include:
Final line-up
Datuk Yusof Haslam as SAC Datuk Helmi (1999–2011, 2014–2021)
Deen Maidin as S.M. Lingam (1999–2011, 2014–2021)
Farid Amirul as Sub Inspector Lim (1999–2011, 2019–2021)[12]
Shaharon Anuar as SAC Saiful (1999–2001, 2019–2021)
Ruzzlan Abdullah Shah as Detective Wong (2018)1[21]
Zul Ariffin as Inspector Ashraf (2009–2011, 2019)
Mustaqim Bahadon as Detective Mustafa (2019)
Guests
From 1999 to 2011 and from 2014 to 2021, Gerak Khas features some of well-known Malaysian actors as a guest cast in each episode. There are also some guest casts who appeared in more than one episode.
Notes: All guest casts were listed in alphabetical order.
The first movie, released in early 2001, topped the Malaysian box office.[22] In the first film, they faced crime bosses Castelo (Rosyam Nor) and Rafayel (Norman Hakim), whom Abadi married in 2002; he returned to the franchise playing Chief Inspector Haris.[22]
In the storyline, Aleeza was jealous of Mazlan's relationship with Inspektor Shafikah (Erra Fazira).[22] However, in the sequel, Mazlan was jealous of Aleeza and new member Inspektor Zamri (Azri Iskandar), was suspected of being corrupt.[23]
2009: Anugerah Skrin 2009 for Best Drama (nominated)[citation needed]
2019: Anugerah MeleTOP Era 2019 for Drama MeleTOP[citation needed]
Spin off
8 months after Gerak Khas The Finale ended, a spin off named Gerak Khas Undercover began airing its 1st season. It stars Aaron Aziz, Elizabeth Tan, Ruzana Ibrahim, Eizlan Yusof, original Gerak Khas actor AC Mizal and Gerak Khas The Movie actor Rosyam Nor, alongside others featured in Gerak Khas The Finale. It aired on 1 October 2021 on TV3.
