De facto PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim has decried the hubbub over a controversial rendition of the national anthem by a young singer from Johor as yet another example of the government stirring up the public sentiment in order to clamp down on freedom of expression.

"Distinguish the alarm expressed by BN leaders on this issue, with their lack of moral concern of fundamental issues," explained Anwar in a high tea session with PKR supporters in Johor Bahru on Sunday.

"Nothing creative, nothing artistic will emerge if you take a narrow-minded attitude. Latitude must be given for creative expression, for freedom of expression," he said.

Anwar was commenting on the controversy stemming from Muar-born singer Wee Meng Chee's rendition of the national anthem that has sparked a witch hunt from various quarters for action to be taken against the youngster.

Known as Namewee on the Internet, Wee has developed a cult following of sorts among young Malaysians after airing a six-minute rap video on YouTube that has been viewed by over half a million people.

The government alleged that the Negarakuku rap sung in a mixture of Mandarin and Bahasa had racially sensitive and seditious lyrics. It also portrayed Malaysian police as corrupt extortionists.

Wee is a media studies student currently based in Taiwan.

Anwar hastened to add that he was not condoning attempts to mock national symbols like the anthem and the flag.

He said he would make a distinction between a legitimate expression of cultural and artistic freedom and licentiousness.

"The line between both may be thin but failure to make the distinction would make us all victims of a stultifying conformity rather than critical appraisers of creative expression.

"Let our 50th anniversary of Merdeka be marked by a greater concern over the protection of fundamental freedoms, combatting corruption and promoting greater unity among Malaysians rather than being merely concerned about national symbols," he said.

Housing policy rapped

Anwar Ibrahim also criticised the government's housing policy for ignoring the most needy sections of the society.

Speaking at a ceramah at Rumah Pangsa Taman Keramat in Selangor prior to his Johor visit, Anwar said there was no justification for the Selangor state government to charge an additional RM90,000 for the sale of the mostly one-room flats there are 799 units when these units were built in 1974 for RM25,000.

Anwar said the residents had already paid up RM45,000.

"To charge them an additional RM90,000 for ownership makes nonsense of the government's claim that its housing policy heeds the needs of the poor," he said.

He said that wealthy bumiputeras were being offered 7 to 10 per cent discounts on luxury apartments in new developments which amounted to a subsidy of RM100,000 to RM150,000.

"This is ridiculous when seen in the light of what is being asked of poor Malays living in cramped conditions in low cost flats," he said.

"The government talks about spending billions on this corridor and that, but in the matter of providing affordable housing for the lower income group there is a big credibility gap between stated policy and implementation on the ground."

"A government that heeds the plight of the lower income group must provide affordable housing to citizens irrespective of race," maintained Anwar.

"What is the point of unveiling grandiose plans for the development of growth corridors when many poor are left to languish in urban squalor that breeds social ills? What is the point of excelling at pomp while fouling up circumstance?" he lamented.