KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 18 — Rapper Wee Meng Chee, or Namewee, is again under police investigation over another music video.
The performer is no stranger to controversy, and indeed, it is said he thrives on it to cultivate his image as an outspoken and edgy artiste appealing to a young audience for whom angst and defiance are stock in trade.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun announced this morning an investigation against Wee under Section 298 of the Penal Code for allegedly offending religious sensitivities with his video Like a Dog along with Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
Here are the other times Wee has been in trouble witj Malaysia's authorities:
Negarakuku (2007)
Namewee uploaded Negarakuku — a parody of the national anthem featuring insults in Mandarin and Hokkien — on YouTube. A year later on September 23, 2008, he was summoned by the police for questioning under the Sedition Act.
Namewee issued a public apology on August 14. A week later, the government imposed a gag order on mainstream media to stop reporting about the rapper.
No further action was taken against Namewee over the matter.
TNB blackout rant (2009)
After a power failure at his Muar home, Namewee recorded himself insulting TNB officer Wan Mohd Faizal Wan Hamat in Mandarin. He also parodied the utility firm in a song titled Tiu Nia B.
He was later charged under Section 509 of the Penal Code with insulting the TNB man and sentenced to three months’ jail or community service. He opted for the latter.
Rant against racist school principal (2010)
Namewee published a song titled F*** Racism Malaysia Nah to condemn a principal accused of telling her non-Malay pupils to return to their countries of origin.
Police investigated him under the Sedition Act while the the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) also questioned him.
He was never charged over the video.
Oh My God (2016)
Namewee produced a music video titled Oh My God that featured various deities in several houses of worship in Penang.
He was investigated Section 295 of the Penal Code for defiling a place of worship with the intent of insulting a religion and arrested on arrival at the KLIA.
He was also remanded for four days on August 22, and later released on bail following the expiry of the detention order.
No charges were filed over the video.
