Rais ready to be sued if N-Day melody was copied

Information, Communications and Culture Minister Rais Yatim he is prepared to be sued if his critics can prove that the melody for this year's National Day song 'Janji Ditepati' (Promises Fulfilled) has been copied from other songs.

"I challenge them to prove it is other people's song. If it is proven, I'm ready to be dragged to court," Utusan Malaysia today quotes Rais as saying.

According to the report, Rais said the opposition has been cornered and was annoyed to the extent of claiming that the melody was copied from other songs.

"They have no capital until even they want to criticise the song. Indeed, it was me who tried to link the lyric of Janji Ditepati withthe melody. But the melody was composed by those who had won RTM's best band award in 2010," he said.

Last week, it was reported that the melody for Janji Ditepati was similar to an Indonesian gospel song titled "Serukan Namanya" (Call out His name).

After it became a hot topic in the cyberspace, the ministry announced the setting up of a panel to probe the allegations.