The Star Online

The Star Online : TechCentral - Malaysia Technology: News Thursday August 9, 2007

University student comes under fire for video clip

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian student Wee Meng Chee has frequently courted controversy with his numerous postings on video search engine YouTube, but his latest parody of the national anthem has been severely criticised by politicians.

Wee has come under fire for mocking the national anthem and making statements many found offensive because they contained racial slurs.

His six-minute video clip, which used Negaraku in a Mandarin rap, has been viewed more than 400,000 times since the middle of last month.

Wee, a 24-year-old mass communications student at Ming Chuan University in Taiwan, has insisted that he is patriotic.

'I wrote the song in conjunction with the country's 50th anniversary of independence and it is my gift to the country,' the Johorean said.

Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Mohd Johari Baharum said police would investigate the rap video while MCA Youth chief Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said Wee had insulted the national anthem.

Liow said that Wee, who used the name 'Namewee,' seemed patriotic but needed guidance to show his patriotism in the proper way.

Wee said he did not mean to be seditious or to attack the Government.