PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian student in Taiwan who used Negaraku in a Mandarin rap video clip may be in trouble.
Police are considering action under the Sedition Act against the 24-year-old man, who goes by the name of "Namewee".
Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Johari Baharum said yesterday that police would study the six-minute video clip on YouTube.
"We will have to look at it first to determine whether he flouted the law. If he has, we will act against him under the Sedition Act."
Namewee is said to be from Muar, Johor, and is studying at the Ming Chuan University.
Harian Metro reported the antics of the 24-year-old yesterday, saying that Namewee had sung the national anthem in rap style in a mixture of Mandarin and Bahasa Malaysia.
It said the video clip had been viewed by more than 400,000 people since the middle of last month.
He was reported to have touched on racially-sensitive issues by sarcastically singing the morning call to prayer for Muslims.
He was said to have given the impression that the police force was corrupt and civil servants were slow in serving the people.
The video clip showed Namewee singing in a room with a Malaysian flag as the backdrop.
The words "Jangan sue saya, saya takde duit (Don’t sue me, I don’t have money)" were featured at the end of the video clip.
Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said Namewee had insulted the national anthem.
"There are so many other ways to be creative. If he had used another song instead of Negaraku, nobody would be criticising him."
Liow, also the MCA Youth chief, said although the lyrics were not particularly offensive, the singer should not have used the national anthem.
"He’s actually trying to reflect on what he feels about the situation in the country. As a young person, he has his ideals, but he should protect the country’s honour and defend symbols like the national anthem."
Liow said he read in the Chinese press that Namewee loved Malaysia and carried the flag wherever he went.
"He seems patriotic, but needs guidance to show his patriotism in the proper way," he said.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission chairman Datuk Dr Halim Shafie said his officers would investigate the matter.
Source: The New Straits Times
Wednesday, 8 August 2007
Student may face music over ‘Negaraku’ rap video: Namewee
To View The Controversial Video Click Here
Taiwan TV News Interviews Namewee on the Controversial Song
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1 comment:
why is the malaysia government want to make a rap song a seditious issue , after all ,this young man is just trying to be creative and the song is not even similar to "Negaraku"? The BN should allow its citizen freedom of expression and live up to its claimed as a moderate and progressive country internationally.
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