Namewee Feeling How It Is To Be Anti-Malay

There was a time in Malaysian socio-political history when there was a label worse than 'racist' for a public figure, that label being 'anti-Malay'. This may seem strange for the younger generation of today, but being anti-Malay as recently as in the early 80's was seen as being shallow, viscous, ignorant and a threat to harmonious relations between all races in Malaysia.

Well, Namewee may be unhappy at having his film rubbished by those who haven't even seen it, but he has to accept this as a reality rather than rant on it. The reality is that someone writting for an established Malay mainstream daily has rubbished his movie due to it simply being directed by him. Why? Because they perceive him to be racist and 'un-1Malaysian'. But truth be told, Namewee's image is worse, as to many Malays, he is anti-Malay.

Namewee has come a long way since the day he published the Negarakuku, a sign-post of how a segment of ethnic chinese-Malaysian youths were and still are developing in terms of socio-political consciousness. Negarakuku showcased a lack of respect and culture as well as a complete ignorance of history, leading up to a feeling of angst and anger towards the Malay-led establishment in Malaysia. It was an outpouring of anti-Malay feelings

Ironically, Namewee was saved of being disowned completely by the nation by the MCA, the Barisan National (BN) government's Chinese component party that is typically rejected by the kind of youths Namewee represents. Namewee and his like typically reject the MCA as being the lackeys of the dominant United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party in the BN coalition. Nevertheless, Namewee followed MCA's advice and apologised.

All Malaysians, generally having adopted the soft-hearted forgiving nature of Malays, chose to forgive, but did not forget. The tarnishing of national symbols, such as the national anthem, is not so easily forgotten. Strangely, or perhaps naturally, him being a media person, Namewee did not seem to want to be forgotten. Since being anti-Malay in the guise of ignorant honesty seemed to work before, Namewee caused further controversies over Youtube.

At the same time, Namewee worked hard to establish himself among the independent media elite of the country, cleverly leveraging on his notoriety and building on his 'simple' yet direct persona. These independents, having grown without too much government support, if at all, proved receptive to Namewee's entry to their circle, allowing him the opportunity to develop as a 'Malaysian' artiste separate from his racist of 'anti-Malay' persona on the web.

It is a shame that when confronted with Namewee's version of racist abuse, BN figures react with either the extremes of calling for his figurative head or embracing him with hope of making him 'understand'. Maybe these leaders are confused by Namewee's apologies for being ignorant and maybe accidentally sounding racist... but this is ridiculous of course! I believe Namewee knows exactly what he is doing - he admits to being a degree holding media man!

For me, Namewee has been a warning sign of there being a segment of disaffected chinese youths who reject the Malaysian Social Contract as they have been given little reason to respect it. However, that was before. Now, I see Namewee as a figure that is a danger to society as he has chosen to earn a living by being the embodiment of the anti-Malay in the public eye. And he dares do so as he believes he can always apologise to the soft-hearted.

Namewee's evolution to being a menace to society was re-affirmed to me when a senior MCA leader recently suggested to bloggers that Nasi Lemak 2.0, Namewee's film, is racist and anti-Malay. It would seem Namewee's former saviour, and despite its recent weaknesses, still the strongest champion of ethnic Chinese rights, the MCA, has disowned him, knowing him to be a danger to continued harmonious prosperity among Malaysians.

So Namewee. Grow up. Stop pretending. Don't even bother apologising. Accept that there are some of us Malaysians, not just Malays, have accepted the cultivated persona you have for what it is. You are a racist  and anti-Malay. Just be greatful the only thing we will (or rather won't) do is to your movie, which even without watching we are reassured is anti-Malay. Sit down and shut up you Racist Anti-Malay Icon.

Please note, this article DOES NOT encourage the watching of Nasi Lemak 2.0 as it is racist, anti-Malay (has to be coz of the director) and will likely be available as cetak rompak soon anyway!

Namewee, Hassan Skodeng Dan Realiti Media Belia Pasca 53 Tahun Merdeka

Saya mengunjung halaman blog Namewee apabila diberitahu tentang bidasan terhadap video terbarunya. Kelihatan Namewee sendiri terasa terhimpit selepas dibidas lebih sehari, sehingga beliau menarik balik video tersebut dari paparan Youtube. Saya telah membuat tiga pemerhatian, yakni:

1. Namewee kelihatan seakan tidak menyedari kesilapan yang dilakukannya. Beliau dari awal lagi menyatakan niatnya adalah untuk menentang perkauman menerusi kepakaran medianya.


2. Namewee menulis dalam bahasa Cina dahulu. Malah, blognya memang mengamalkan bahasa Cina sebagai bahasa utama. Ini mungkin boleh dibilang rasis kerana ia mengecualikan mereka yang bukan berbahasa Cina untuk menikmati penulisannya, namun ia juga ironis memandangkan pernyataan Namewee yang beliau anti-perkauman. Lagipun, ini pilihan peribadi untuk blog sendiri.


3. Melalui link ke Facebook, terlihat beliau mempunyai >230,000 pengikut. Apa? Namewee ada >230,000 pengikut di Facebook! Rasanya Puteri UMNO ahlinya pun tak seramai itu! Itu dah ~0.8% rakyat Malaysia, boleh menentukan keputusan pilihanraya di banyak tempat!

Selang seminggu, Namewee menerima pelbagai teguran, amaran, malah terpapar dalam TV serta ditemuramah Polis berjam-jam. Namun Namewee tak kelihatan seperti beliau sedar akan kesalahannya. Walaupun beliau belum lagi diberikan apa-apa hukuman, jumla pengikut Facebooknya semakin mendadak meningkat. Namewee kini mempunya >300,000 pengikut (1.1% penduduk Malaysia!) di halaman Facebooknya.

Mungkinkah terlalu banyak tumpuan telah diberikan kepada perbuatan Namewee sebagai seorang individu dan perlumbaan suara menghentam perbuatannya. Namun beliau masih tidak merasa bersalah. Malah beliau didukung 300 ribu pengikut di Facebook, majoritinya golongan belia Malaysia! Bukankah seharusnya tumpuan diberikan kepada sebab kenapa Namewee boleh begitu popular walau atau mungkin kerana beliau begitu dibidas?

Sekitar masa yang sama, seorang lagi blogger bergelar Hassan Skodeng diheret ke mahkamah atas tuduhan merosakkan nama baik seorang tokoh koprat negara melalui fitnah di internet. Namun apabila dibaca, ternyata coretan kelakar beliau sama-sekali tak masuk akal sehingga pembaca pasti sedar yang ia hanya buat-buatan berunsur sindiran. Apakah mungkin sindiran tersebut terkena sasaran terlalu tepat sehingga tokoh koprat GLC tersebut tergerak untuk bertindak-balas?

Dalam kes Hassan Skodeng juga, terlihat simpati golongan Belia, terutama sekali para pelayar alam maya, lebih kepada Hassan. Amnya, golongan Belia memahami seni bahasa sindiran berjenaka yang digunakan untuk memaparkan kerakusan seorang tokoh koprat. Tidak ada yang merasakan salah tokoh koprat tersebut dipaparkan demikian, kerana ia sesuai dengan imej 'stereotype' atau kelaziman tanggapan Belia terhadap 'tokoh-tokoh koprat' negara.

Dalam kedua-dua kes ini, yang dipersalahkan adalah pempelopor media muda di bawah umur 40 tahun. Yang dipersalahkan adalah mesej mereka yang difikirkan kurang sesuai pemaparannya, sama ada kerana bahasanya terlalu kesat atau sindirannya meruncing tajam. Namun, bahasa dan cara yang digunakan adalah yang sudah menjadi kelaziman dipergunakan oleh Belia untuk menjerit rasa hati serta melontar bantahan ke arah mereka yang 'berkuasa'.

Tindakan pihak berkuasa ke atas Namewee dan Hassan Skodeng tanpa mengakui intipati atau mesej yang dibawa akan dilihat bukan sekadar hukuman terhadap individu berkenaan, tetapi juga penolakkan luahan hati dalam realiti media persekitaran Belia pasca 53 tahun Merdeka. Adakah mungkin dalam apa-apa kesalahan yang dituduh terhadap mereka, ada juga bibit-bibit kebenaran yang harus mengambil kira?

Malah, menurut peraturan MCMC sendiri, kemungkinan besar Hassan Skodeng akan didapati tidak bersalah pun dalam perbuatannya, cuma salah di mata tokoh koprat yang terguris sindirannnya. Manakala Namewee pula... jurublog ini pun sebenarnya tak setuju dengan cara beliau, terutama perbuatan-perbuatannya terdahulu, seperti mengherdik melulu kakitangan TNB dan mempermainkan lagu Negaraku. Namun anggapan 300,000 pengikutnya harus difahami.

Inilah realiti media yang dipelopori oleh golongan Belia pasca 53 tahun Merdeka. Merdeka bukan sekadar mengibar, menaikkan, melukis dan mencatkan Jalur Gemilang sahaja ke mana-mana. Merdeka harus membawa makna lebih dari itu. Makna yang melampaui pembangunan fizikal atau kemakmuran semata-mata. Merdeka membawa peluang untuk masyarakat Malaysia berkembang kematangan dan identitinya.

Identiti Belia Malaysia Merdeka kini sedang diolah menerusi media kita. Soalan bagi pihak berkuasa semestinya adalah, adakah mereka mahu terlihat sebagai penghalang perkembangan identiti ini sehingga ditolak oleh golongan Belia? Atau adakah pihak berkuasa bersedia duduk mencari kesefahaman bersama sebagai 'orang dewasa' yang memimpin tanpa mengekang perkembangan identiti Belia Malaysia Merdeka? 1Malaysia hanya kan tercapai jika kita duduk bersama...