PAS Youth: Namewee was provoked

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 2: The PAS Youth wing slightly differed in its response to the controversy
surrounding a YouTube video clip posted by young songwriter Wee Meng Chee, better known as Namewee (right).

Its chief Nasruddin Hassan Tantawi described Namewee as a victim of racial provocation although he may have gone overboard with his racist remarks.

“Namewee is against racism and has become a victim of racial provocation in the country.

"But he went to the extreme to voice out his restless mind,” twitted Nasrudin in response to the latest controversy surrounding a video clip on YouTube which attracted condemnations over its racist tone.

Namewee's video was apparently a response to the lack of action by the government over school principal Siti Inshah Mansor’s racist jibe which had likened Chinese to migrants who should "return to China” and the Indian prayer beads to "dog leashes".

In his short clip, Wee delivered a rap version of his dissatisfaction, complete with vulgarities and obscenities slamming the principal.

The YouTube clip was taken off following an outcry from UMNO and other Barisan Nasional leaders who called for the young artist's arrest for sedition. The call also received backing from MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek, who told Namewee to “face the music” for offending other races.

UMNO Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin in a statement yesterday took offense at one part of the song's lyric, in which Namewee hinted that Malaysian Chinese had been solely responsible for the country's development.

Nasrudin (left) however said Namewee would not have produced such an offending video had the government acted swiftly against Siti Inshah's racist outburst.

“Namewee’s video is kurang ajar (uncouth), but I think the video would not have been out if swift actions had been taken against Siti Inshah and without racial provocation,” said Nasruddin.

Namewee had since denied that he was racist, even saying that he personified the prime minister's 1Malaysia slogan when he was called to the police station two days ago.

Namewee is not new to controversy. He first rose to fame when he mocked the Negaraku, in a music video called "Negarakuku" which decries the state of affairs in the country, prompting an outcry from UMNO leaders.