What is the big deal about a 'punk rocker' sampling the national anthem? Writer and film director Hishamuddin Rais had this to ask at a PKR forum on the Negarakuku controversy.

Answering the question, he said the big deal is only because the episode has shown up the failure of the government's 'Malaysian project'.

"There are prejudices in this song but that's no big deal because everybody has their prejudices," he told the packed room comprising some 100 people last night.

"But what this really shows up in the mind of this young Chinese boy is that the Malaysian project has failed to unite all the races."

Muar-born Wee Meng Chee, 24, rapped his song against the background of the national flag and anthem, in a music video that was posted online.

Several ministers were among those who criticised him, claiming that the lyrics have incited racial hatred and insulted Islam.

The media studies student, currently based in Taiwan, faces the possibility of being charged under the Sedition Act and will be investigated by Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) despite his apology and removal of the video.

Hishamuddin said only a few sections of society have supported the government's call for prosecution.

"Look at Zam (Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin) and a few others in the cabinet. They are split on this issue," he said.

"Even (opposition party) PAS has not taken a position on this matter despite people saying that the lyrics insult Islam, because they too hate the government."

He pointed out that Malaysia has entered an era in which the public can question anything, and this shows that society is evolving towards maturity.

He also left the audience in stitches when he said people in villages would not be affected by the burning of the national flag.

"If you go to the kampung (village) and set the flag on fire, they will tell you not to burn it - but only because they are afraid that you might burn down the house. It has nothing to do with patriotism," he mused aloud, to laughter.

Call to Jakim

Institute for Policy Research (IKD) executive director Khalid Jaafar, said the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) can learn from Wee's view of the azan (Muslim call to prayer) during the subuh (dawn) prayers.

Wee described the azan as his wake-up call, saying it sometimes sounds like a rooster crowing and that it is off-key.

"This shows that the imam appointed are not doing a good job (of sounding the call). Jakim should look into this to make sure that they are doing their job," Khalid said.

"People forget that the call to prayer is not just heard by Muslims, but also by non-Muslims. How are we reach out to non-Muslims if we don't consider (their views)?"

Former student activist Amin Idris said he was very angry when he first saw the video but that he then realised he should first understand where Wee is coming from on this.

"I am glad Wee made the video so that I could reflect. I sought to understand him. I would forgive him because Islam teaches us to forgive and to look at the positive aspects of other people," he said.

He also stressed that politicians - with their racial incitements and rampant corruption - constitute a greater threat to national security than Wee's video.

PKR Youth deputy head Amiruddin Sari felt the song is patriotic because it highlights the rot in the country.

"The issues raised - such as corruption, the civil service and how he feels as a citizen - how can this be seen as unpatriotic at all? The aspiration in the song is that Wee has a (progressive) vision of nation-building," he said.

PKR information chief Tian Chua moderated the forum, held at the Kuala Lumpur-Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall.