• SPECIAL REPORT: The Negarakuku saga
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  • Wee Meng Chee, known as Namewee on the Internet, has developed a cult following of sorts among young Malaysians after airing a six-minute rap video on YouTube last month that has been viewed by over half a million people.

    The rap, which is a parody of the national anthem containing a mixture of Mandarin and Hokkien lyrics touched on a number of racially and religiously sensitive issues.

    For this the 24-year-old media studies student, who is based in Taiwan, faces the full might of the state - he is being probed by the police and the Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Commission.

    There was even suggestion that his citizenship could be revoked, and action is being mulled under the Sedition Act as well as the National Anthem Act.

    While Wee has apologised, the government nevertheless vowed to punish him. The following are a selection of the reports and the subsequent discussion that took place in Malaysiakini on the issue.


    NEWS REPORTS

    Rapper Wee rapped in Dewan Rakyat
    Gov't in quandary over YouTube rapper
    PKR Youth: Look at ‘Negarakuku’ objectively
    Negarakuku singer alleges Malay daily instigation
    NGOs: Don’t persecute artistic expressions
    Anwar raps attitude in anthem controversy
    I'm sorry, says Negarakuku rapper
    Let’s accept Wee’s apology: Zam
    Negarakuku apology: A hollow victory
    Cabinet rejects apology from rapper
    Rapper's citizenship will not be revoked
    Negarakuku video: PAS, DAP rap Umno
    Negarakuku: Let it rest, says MCA Youth
    'Negarakuku': MCMC launches probe
    Sedition: Charge both Wee and Umno
    Wee's rap song - what’s the big deal?
    'Negarakuku': Enough! ministry tells media
    ‘New’ rap video made before ‘Negarakuku’: Wee


    OPINIONS

    • Monkey business as usual
    • Write, blog and rap to roll the rage
    • Negarakuku: Selepas bukit digunungkan


    Below are the Letters to the Editor on the Negarakuku issue [below the comment box]

    • Why indulge in some youngster�s pastime?
    • �Negarakuku�: Stop abusing the �freedom�
    • Don�t selectively victimise Namewee
    • �Negarakuku� episode just a �wayang�
    • Punish the others first before Wee
    • Wee Meng Chee only tip of iceberg
    • Respect for national anthem a process
    • Apologies an alien concept for cabinet
    • Understand �Negarakuku� in context
    • Negarakuku: Nazri out to detract public attention
    • We no longer can hide issues from the young
    • Negarakuku: Let�s move on
    • Art for political protest will soon be more popular
    • 'Negarakuku�: Political bigots out for a pound of flesh
    • Wee�s song reflects views of non-Malay youth
    • Arrogant of cabinet not to accept apology
    • Gov�t the one who should apologise
    • Rapper shouldn�t have humiliated Islam
    • No reason to strip Namewee of citizenship
    • NegaraKuKu: Harian Metro terabai
    • Use Negarakuku as a guide
    • �Negarakuku�: Don�t take moral high ground
    • �Negarakuku� disrespectful, rude
    • Drop the ethnic blinkers, rap the rapper
    • Negarakuku: Understand where composer is coming from
    • All must respect national anthem
    • MCA should adopt �Negarakuku� rap song
    • DAP wrong to condone use of Sedition Act