Namewee under probe over video

[Cao Pi]

Tuesday August 31, 2010

Namewee under probe over video

By NELSON BENJAMIN, AUSTIN CAMOENS and M. KUMAR
[email protected]

JOHOR BARU: Police have started investigating controversial rapper Wee Meng Chee, better known as Namewee, for posting a video on YouTube condemning a principal who allegedly made a racist statement recently. He is being investigated under the Sedi-tion Act, said Federal CID director Comm Datuk Seri Bakri Zinin.

He said police would be calling Wee soon to record his statement. Wee, 27, removed the video from YouTube after it met with disapproval from various parties, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. “It does not matter if he has removed the video; we still have to investigate,” said Bakri.

The 27-year-old Muar-born artiste first made headlines with his infamous Negarakuku YouTube music video in 2007, which he did while studying in a university in Taiwan. Since then, the rapper had also been criticised for hitting out at Tenaga Nasional Bhd after his home in Muar was hit by a blackout and for his views and sentiments on the Chinese independent school system.

Wee, when contacted yesterday, said he was unperturbed by the investigation. He, however, expressed disappointment over the way his video had been politicised. “I am sad that the authorities have done nothing against the racist principal but instead focused their attention on me. I do not regret what I have done as I love my country and do not want a small group of people to stir problems,” he said.

Wee said he grew up with friends of various races and that was why he was angered by a few “black sheep” in the education system who did not respect Malaysia as a multiracial country with religious freedom. “My main reason for uploading the new video was to stand up against racism,” he said, adding that he used obscene language as a form of communication and did not intend it to offend anyone.

 

[Taishi Ci]

Police: Wee not arrested yet


Wednesday September 1, 2010

Police: Wee not arrested yet

JOHOR BARU: Police have dismissed talk that they have arrested controversial rapper Wee Meng Chee or Namewee for allegedly posting an offensive video on popular web-sharing site YouTube. “We have not arrested Wee as yet,” said Johor police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff.

DCP Mohd Mokhtar said so far six police reports had been lodged against the rapper for condemning a principal who allegedly made racist statements against her non-Malay students in Kulaijaya recently. Wee, 27, who was filming a video in Kuala Lumpur, later went to the Taman Tun Dr Ismail police station in Kuala Lumpur at about 9.15pm accompanied by his lawyer Raveen Singh to give his statement.

He came about three hours later and said he had co-operated fully with the police. “I was not given any warning. I only gave my statement,” he said while expressing hope that people would continue to support him to speak up against racism. MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said freedom of expression came with responsibility and due consideration should be given to the sensitivities of other people.

He said Wee might be unhappy with whoever but he should not have used vulgar words. “I saw the post and I must say there are a lot of vulgar words or signs being used. “He is not only showing off his talent but he is also using uncivilised words,” he said, adding that the current post was different from the Negaraku music video clip about three years ago.

On the same note, Dr Chua said school principals should also be charged if there was proof that they had used racial remarks against their students. He said this would send a strong signal to all as the Prime Minister had said Malaysians should reject any form of extremism in race and religion. “A person should face the music for such a breach,” he said.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said action would be taken against Wee if his latest video posting was indeed stoking racial sentiments. “I have been briefed by Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar and have directed the police to investigate the case from all angles,” he said yesterday.