The studio operated from 1947 to 1969 with more than 150 movies produced, and was a major contributor to Singapore's "golden age" of Malay cinema.

[1][2] Many of the films are critically acclaimed, a significant number of which involved P. Ramlee as actor, director, writer or composer.

[7] Plans for expansion with the construction of a new film studio on No.8 Jalan Ampas in Balestier were first announced by John Laycock, representing the Shaw Organisation, on 17 June 1941.

[8][9][10] The location on Jalan Ampas was originally a warehouse occupied by Indian washermen, who were ejected from the premises by 31 August 1941.

[22] The increase in production in the 1950s led to the expansion of the studio into neighbouring plots of land for the construction of new sound stages, with quarters on Boon Teck Road where its employees were housed.

[23][24] Rao popularised the supernatural and horror genre with the film Roh Membela ("Revenge of the Spirit") in 1955.

Ramlee directed his first feature film Penarek Becha [ms] ("Trishaw Man") in 1955, and started the Bujang Lapok comedy series in 1957.

[27] In 1954, many of the employees of the studio formed Persama (Persatuan Artis Malaya, the Malayan Artists Union), with P Ramlee its first president.

[28] In 1957 they demanded increases in their wage, payment for overtime, half-day work on Saturdays with Sundays off, as well as bigger bonuses for each completed film.

[34] A concert, the "Malam Suka Duka", was held at the Gay World Stadium to raise funds for the strike.

[35] Following the strike a meeting for a negotiation, which was advised by the Tunku, was held, during which the Shaw Organisation revealed that it had not been making a profit from producing movies in years.

[31] The union made an appeal to the Menteri Besar of the nine Federation states for support in the dispute over the dismissal over the five employees.

Film production slowed down, and several stars, such as P. Ramlee and Kasma Booty, also moved to Malaysia in 1964 to seek better opportunities.

[43][44] The last film made at the Jalan Ampas studio by MFP, Raja Bersiong released in 1968, was a lavish production that nevertheless failed at the box office.