The Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry is considering action against a private radio station, Radio Era, which speculated that the national anthem is a copy of a Hawaiian song called 'Mamula Moon'.

"We will study this matter in detail and if we find the concerned radio station purposely tried to ridicule the national anthem, we will take action under the National Anthem Act.

"To say the national anthem is imitated (from another song) is very serious. If Radio Era can't state its stance clearly, then we will take action accordingly," said its minister Dr Rais Yatim in Parliament today.

He made the statement during his ministry's winding-up speech on the Budget 2006 debate. The matter was earlier raised by Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan).

"There is no sensitivity at all [...] how can a top radio channel air a programme like that to ridicule the NegaraKu [...] immediate action must be taken," said Bung Moktar.

The controversy elicited different response from other parliamentarians.

Badruddin Amiruldin (BN-Jerai) said the station should refer to the ministry first if it was uncertain whether the Negaraku was based on the Hawaiian song.

"If they insult the NegaraKu, then action must be taken because this concerns the sovereignty of the country. But maybe it is the Hawaiian song that followed our NegaraKu, who knows?" he said when met.

Tunku's choice

Ahmad Shabery Cheek (BN-Kemaman), however, opined otherwise. He said the controversy was a "non-issue" because the NegaraKu was "never claimed to be an original song".

"As far I am remember, the melody of the national anthem is from the song 'Terang Bulan' which was a famous song during (first prime minister) Tunku Abdul Rahman's time.

"It could be that song copied the Hawaiian song's melody but not everything per se," he said.

According to him, Tunku Abdul Rahman had chosen the 'Terang Bulan' melody because the latter wanted a song which was popularly sung at that time.

Rais has earlier asked Radio Era to pull a plug on the programme. He also said it was inappropriate for the station to request feedback from its listeners on the issue.

The programme, hosted by two deejays, had many people calling in to express their disappointment and embarrassment on the allegation that the national anthem was unoriginal.