Namewee: Many Malays supported me after 'Babi' film controversy

 

Director and rapper Namewee may often be found in the centre of “hot” issues, but he has admitted that he is not someone who likes to chase after controversy.

The controversies inevitably occur after he has unravelled current issues in the country through his work.

“I have never liked controversy. I am just a content creator highlighting issues that are happening.

“I am not a pioneer of something new. I am just often labelled as someone who likes to touch on sensitivities with the justification that it is a racial issue.

“Actually, many creative content creators prefer to self-censor in their art because they are beholden to the existing system.

“Meanwhile, artistes in Japan or the US have been bringing controversial issues into the commercial viewpoint for a long time,” he said in an exclusive interview with Malaysiakini recently.

Namewee, whose real name is Wee Meng Chee, said his directness in his art is only meant to convey a message to his audience.

“As a director and singer, making films and music is a form of weapon for people like us.

“Usually, if I want to criticise something, the medium I will use is through rap. Whereas, if I want to shout out, I will use rock music,” he said.

Namewee and film producer Joko Toh

Increasing attention

The Johor-born artiste had gained increasing attention when a poster for ‘Babi’, a film he directed last year, was said to touch on racial sensitivities. ‘Babi’ is the Malay word for pig.

Several police reports had been lodged against the poster, including from the Federal Territories Perikatan Nasional Youth information unit and the Malaysian Artists Association, who had urged the authorities to take action against the 38-year-old director.

Subsequently, Namewee and the film’s producer, Joko Toh, were questioned by the police.

Speaking about his audience among the Malay community, Namewee said he actually gained more Malay fans due to the controversy of the film.

“Times have changed. If you want to know about someone, you just have to Google. Anyone can do that.

“If this was 12 years ago, when people could only read the news through the media, such as when there was the commotion over the ‘Negarakuku’ song. At the time, many people did not understand my work.

“There were many who slammed me in the early days because what was publicised was incorrect. Back then, they thought I was someone who liked to incite racial issues.

“But that is not the case anymore, they are starting to understand my art and the way I work. And because of the ‘Babi’ incident, there are many Malays supporting me too,” he said.

'I want freedom to do my art'

Previously, Namewee and Toh had claimed that they were frequently questioned by the police upon arrival back in Malaysia from Taiwan, following the issuance of an arrest warrant.

For the record, Namewee said he would only go to Taiwan if he had a new project there.

Asked if anyone in Taiwan had questioned him about the controversy plaguing him, Namewee replied briefly that he only wants to have freedom in his art in this country.

“Of course, the Taiwanese people can read all the issues related to me in the media.

“When I respond to that, what I can say is that, as a director and musician, what I want is to be given the freedom to do my art,” he said. -Mkini