Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Islamophobia

I saw today in the news a section on Harian Metro, covering a news section about a “creative” young Chinese Malaysian rapping in Chinese of course to the sound of Negaraku, which he aptly titled Negarakuku….i dont know whether this is a chinese pun, but obviously this boy did not do very well in his Bahasa Malaysia SPM.

Out of curiousity, i searched the web and found an english subtitled version of his song, and basically i was shocked.

I know perhaps that the boy was joking, but i think he touched on sensitivities and on aspects of Malay culture that i am sure he does not have full understanding, such as religion, the athan and also why muslim women cover up.

I mean, likening the call to prayer ( the athan) to R & B and a cockerel crowing is just offensive. I dont care how liberal an understanding of islam you may have, but this is just insulting.

He also hinted on how lazy the bumiputras (myself included) are in his song, and how the chinese have had to work hard for a living in Malaysia; how they are being hounded out of the country for studying in chinese schools etc…etc… To be frank i dont care what he says about the government or the police, but to insult half the population of Malaysia in your song is uncalled for.

So he is stereotyping Malays and Bumiputras (org aslis, siam, portugese, kadazan, iban, murut, dusun, org laut etc) as lazy, slow and always being protected by the government, and he expects the Malays just sit down and take it, because, hell its just a joke  by a boy, isn’t it.

I feel more and more insulted by this guy as i write this entry.

So, if my 18 year old, university undergraduate friend who stereotyped the  chinese as illegal dvd pedalling, prostitute pimping, estacy dealing, illegal nombor ekor selling triad members, then of course i would reject this as i have a chinese friends and they are very much the opposite of the stereotypes.

They are well respected members of the community as well as professionals in their own right.

So this video, by NAMAWEE or real name Wee Meng Chee has come as a shock to many, including myself. I have the feeling that this boy is trying to pry open Malaysia’s very own pandoras box, as Malays, Bumiputra and Muslims do not tolerate insults on their creed and religion very kindly. You can call these people as intolerant conservatives, or stuck in the past, but i would say that they are just proud to be Bumiputra and Muslim.

Boy o boy, Wee Meng Chee you’ve done it this time. The wave of discontent i feel is just rising since this has been given mainstream coverage. I fear the reprecussion of this “funny” video clip is beyond what he or i can imagine.

To judge for yourself the video clip, click on link here.


Negarakuku By NAMEWEE

Literal translation by NICOLE FOO


(Repeat) Check it out, yo, yo, yo.

(Repeat) Negaraku, Negarakuku.

I love my country, only when you have a country you have a home
Only with a home then there will be me, standing here with you
Loudly singing, don’t be afraid
Even though I curse all the time
My song, is just like the durian
Tough and spiky, only
To see if you dare to open it, to look at the truth inside
It can be very stinky, it can be very fragrant
It only depends on what kind of nostrils you have.

Our police is called Mata
Because they have very shiny eyes
Once it’s New Year, they will be very hard working
Holding pens but they will rarely write you a receipt
Because they are thirsty, they need to drink tea
Also kopi-O, want to add sugar?
If they add sugar, their mouths will sweetly smile at you
When you are leaving
They will even go “Tata.”

Negaraku
Tanah tumpahnya darahku
Rakyat hidup bersatu dan maju.

This phenomenon, doesn’t need any improvements
Neither does it need strengthening, the police and the people work together
A cup of coffee keeps our relationship temperate
I so very suka
At least I won’t go home and receive a saman (fine or ticket)
My dad would sure be pissed
I would also kiong kan (swear word in Cantonese for “get raped”), with no car to drive
What to do, this time so very kao lat (an expression, something like aiyo)
With no car, how do I go out and play?
With no car, how do I wage “wild war”? (I don’t know what it means but I assume it has something to do with a girl)
With no car, how do I go and watch ah kua? (transvestites)
This country, I like it very much.

5 in the morning
There’s even a morning call to wake me up
Sometimes a few of them will sing together
When you listen to it, it’s like a love duet
The voice ululates like an R&B song
Even though sometimes they sing until it’s out of tune
Even though sometimes they even sing until their voices break
Some sound like cockerels, but they wake up earlier than them
This way we can know the time to get ready for class and for work
Don’t blame, the government only takes cares of the natives
Don’t blame, we don’t receive equal care
Only this way we can prove that we Chinese are not afraid of hard work
Only this way we can train ourselves to find a solution during hard times
Don’t feel weird about their standards
Because this only shows that we are smart (or capable)
Children who are not spoilt will not be dependant
Because you see some children are still not weaned off breast-feeding.

Rahmat bahagia
Tuhan kurniakan
Raja kita
Selamat bertakhta.

People who hide in government departments are even better (even more capable)
They can do everything so slowly
Even when people are queuing, are cursing stinky lelai (what’s that?)
They’re chill and unfazed
Sometimes they even bring out their kuih
They eat their nyonya kuih
More people will continue queuing up
Even when you curse stinky lelai it doesn’t matter
Because the guard at the side is dreaming
And he won’t scold you one lah.

They wrap up their heads; walk slowly and cross the road slowly
When you pass in the car you even have to let them pass first
The most important thing is to live happily; the most important thing is to live comfortably
Don’t be like the Chinese
Busy the whole day, very tough
We really cannot NOT admire this spirit”
Because this is their attitude in life.

(Attitude, attitude)

I’ve been saying good things in this song
I believe those of you who are pissed at me will like this now
The world is peaceful, and full of hope
No one is hurt, there aren’t any riots
You’re so classy, you’re so elegant
Your shit is fragrant, and you don’t curse
You guys are the most high class, every day it’s just romancing

Listening to Guang Liang Pin Guan (this local Chinese artiste)
But he already ran to Taiwan
Private school students graduate
It’s so very tough to get admitted into local universities
Actually we don’t have to get pissed about this issue
Actually this is the a very noble plan by the government
They want us to explore the world, to find new opportunities for ourselves
To learn things and come back and repay the country
This is plan is so great, I can’t quibble about it
All over the world you can see Malaysia’s children
They’re like refugees, so very shiok (expression for orgasm or hig
h)

2007, Malaysia’s having Visit Malaysia Year
The Chinese culture is brought out and paraded
The government doesn’t even care about private school students
The certificate is thrown into the longkang (ditch), just like me

Graduated and went to Taiwan
Learned about things, and got ready to come back to repay my country
I stood on the streets of Taipei with my guitar
But my mouth still sings.

Rahmat Bahagia
Tuhan kurniakan
Raja kita Selamat bertakhta.

just my 2cents at 10:56 PM |

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