Telephone Interview Response By Wee Meng Chee (namewee)

Here is a telephone interview from Taiwan, by NST (The New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad)

This article is taken form the NST Online

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By David Yeow

13 August, 2007

KUALA LUMPUR: The Negaraku rap video was meant to be a satirical social commentary on life in Malaysia as a Chinese and it was never meant to be an insult to Islam or the Malays.
This was what Wee Meng Chee, who was featured in the video using the pseudonym "Namewee", said in a telephone interview from Taiwan yesterday.

The mass communications undergraduate studying at the Ming Chuan University in Taipeh is under fire in Malaysia for posting a six-minute video of himself singing the national anthem interspersed with rap on Youtube.

"I was just rapping about things Malaysians talk about all the time," he said.

In the video, the 24-year-old Wee associated the 5am Azan call with a morning call and said the person praying sang out of tune sometimes which made it sound like a rooster’s crow.

Wee admitted it was most probably those verses of his song that people were offended with but urged the public to interpret his lyrics in context.

"Please understand that I was merely describing my experiences in my hometown," said Wee, who is from Muar. "I have always respected the sanctity of every religion. It is not something I would mess with."

Wee said that the rap video was meant to be a satirical take on life as a Malaysian Chinese for the benefit of the Chinese community in Taiwan and China."That’s why I rapped in Mandarin, it was just my attempt at humour aimed solely for the pleasure of the Chinese community," he said.

Wee denied accusations that he had changed and distorted the lyrics or melody of the national anthem.

On the demand for a public apology before Aug 31 by Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, Wee said he was prepared to apologise if his video was found to be offensive to the Malay community.

"Personally, I don’t think I have done anything wrong, but I will apologise if there is a reason to," Wee said.

Wee said he loved Malaysia and planned to return home next year.

Wee’s father, who declined to be named, has expressed support for his son.

"My whole family stands by him. We think the video issue has been blown out of proportion," he said.

"I urge the public to be more open-minded about my son’s video."

© Copyright 2007 The New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad. All rights reserved.


From what we can gather from the Newspapers and general comments from forums, blogs and from the Press, it seems that there are those who agrees with namewee, especially his family members and there are those who thinks that this "creative stunt" is an Insult Because It makes fun of the national anthem and contains Racial Slurs.....

Anyways ... here is the lyrics in English and the translation / meaning behind the lyrics .... you can decide for your self.....

Personally, although there are some truth in namewee's mandarin rap; for he is describing his Personal Experience ...., however, we still feel that, it is not right to make fun of the National Anthem.

Yes, Wee has a right to Free Speech, but do it more tactfully to avoid any Racial Disharmony. Lastly, I am glad to Wee has offered to Apologized to the Public; before August 31st 2007, should his "rap" be found to offend anyone.

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