KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 ─ Malay daily Utusan Malaysia has filed two police reports against rapper-turned-filmmaker Wee Meng Chee for making obscene statements against it and its reporter through an online video clip.
The Umno-owned national newspaper carried an opinion piece last month in which the writer, Fauziah Arof, said she refused to watch “Nasi Lemak 2.0” despite the star-studded cast as Wee had previously insulted Malaysians, in particular Malays and Muslims, in his 2007 rendition of the national anthem, “Negarakuku”.
Shortly after, the Johor-born better known as Namewee (picture) returned fire on Utusan, in a three-minute clip on YouTube, for passing judgment on his cinematic debut without having seen it first.
“They said ... that director, Namewee, he’s the one who criticised Malaysia. He did this before, he wrote that song before. Eh, ****** lah. What the **** is with the past?” he rapped.
Utusan was not amused and has called for the authorities to act against the provocative entertainer for multimedia abuse to lower its public image using obscene language in its police report filed yesterday.
“By using obscene language, Namewee’s actions have lowered the reporter’s dignity and caused Utusan Malaysia to be seen as racist and extremist,” the company’s legal advisor, Mohd. Jefri Daman was reported as saying today on page two of Mingguan Malaysia, its weekend edition.
The prominent newspaper’s anger appears to have spilled over to some pro-Umno bloggers who have questioned the ruling Malay party’s president Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s backing for Namewee.
The anonymous bloggers behind portals such Parpukari (http://parpukari.blogspot.com/) and Gerakan Anti-PKR (http://gerakan-anti-pkr.blogspot.com/) demand Najib, who is also prime minister, explain his remarks.
Najib had last week dubbed Wee “a strong supporter of 1 Malaysia” today, in the face of calls for action to be taken against the “Nasi Lemak 2.0” producer for past criticism of the country.
He described Wee as “unique and unconventional in his methods and thinking”, when quizzed about the performer’s expletive-laden video attacking Utusan for suggesting his debut movie was not worth watching due to his allegedly racist past.
“What is important is that Namewee and other parties support what we are doing for the country. I understand he is a strong supporter of 1 Malaysia, so I encourage him to continue with his views as a blogger and (in) other media such as film,” the prime minister said, in what is seen as a move to burnish his credentials as a “cool” reformist leader ahead of the 13th general elections widely believed will be called by early January next year.
The Parpukari blogger who goes by the handle HousePK appeared enraged by Najib’s supportive stand.
“Aku masih tak faham kenapa PM keluarkan kenyataan menyokong anak haram yang aku rasa mak bapak dia pun menyesal kerana telah melahirkan dia yang begitu anti melayu sekali ni (I still don’t understand why the PM issued a statement supporting this illegitimate son whose father feel regrets begetting such an anti-Malay son),” he wrote yesterday.
“Aku dan rakyat Malaysia perlukan penjelasan, adakah ini 1 Malaysia? (I and Malaysians need an explanation, is this 1 Malaysia),” he added, referring to Najib’s oft-recited unity slogan.
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