A popular local singer came under fire at the Dewan Rakyat today for allegedly failing to render the Negaraku according to the official version during the Malaysia Cup final on Saturday.

Singer Hattan could face the music under the National Anthem Act if he is found guilty of deliberately singing the Negaraku in a different manner.

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Dr Rais Yatim ( left ) said he will consult Information Minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir on the issue.

"I will work with the Information Ministry to obtain the song (Hattan's version). If the said party had sung (differently) or mocked (the national anthem), we will act under the National Anthem Act," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .

Rais was responding to Mohamed Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) who claimed that Hattan had sang the national anthem differently and therefore should be punished.

"Singing like this is treacherous to the country and race.(He) should be punished and thrown into the sea. If this is the example set by a singer, what version is to be used as the official one?" he asked.

Protest march

In an unrelated development, more than 200 people marched from the KLCC mosque to the Thai embassy in Kuala Lumpur to submit a protest memorandum on the alleged atrocities committed on those in Southern Thailand.

The group, made up of several non-governmental organisations, carried banners and placards.

The memorandum was submitted to the embassy's second secretary Wichan Sarasiri by Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung (GPMS) president Suhaimi Ibrahim.

Suhaimi told reporters later that several local NGOs will send volunteers to Southern Thailand in the near future to monitor the situation and if possible, have an audience with the Thai king.

He also urged the Malaysian government not to hand over the 131 Thai citizens who fled to Kelantan after their province was rocked with violence.

He said their safety must be ensured before any such decision can be made.

Suhaimi also called on Malaysians to boycott at least two Thai products as a mark of protest.