Tuesday, August 14, 2007

negarakuku : malays can't stand the heat?

i know this has been an old news in malaysia but i'm going to give a brief introduction to this video anyways. the video below is entitled 'Negarakuku', written by namewee, a chinese malaysian now studying in taiwan. namewee high jacked the malaysian national anthem's melody and created a rap song that outrages the malay community of malaysia. just look at the comments people put about this video on youtube.

the song touched issues like police bribery and racial double standards that when you think about it with a calm mind, although it's hurtful and ugly, is very true and serious at the same time. what amazes me is that how racist and inhumane the reactions towards this video is, it seems like these people (who posted rude, racist comments) didn't even understand or took the time to understand what the lyrics means (it's in chinese); but instead flame the independent musician blatantly just because he spoke his mind about an issue everybody knows about. a lot of the comments is about killing the rapper and doing horrible things to his family and stuff. is that what you call islamic? what, the chinese can't criticize the malays these days?

but what's worse is the responses that angry chinese wrote to counter the horrific comments they get from malays. and the process repeats itself thousands of times. chinese and malays dissing each other with offensive language that are far more serious than the song in question. it looks like although the goverment proudly touts the country to be racially harmonic, the reality is that racial hatred is burning like wild fire in a hot summer day in the hearts of malaysian men and women. what i'm trying to say is that the song 'negarakuku' is nothing compared to the comments you could read on youtube. it's dangerously racist, full of anger and hatred, and could do more damage than the silly song namewee wrote.

the nature of rap is harsh and very straight to the point and i think namewee did a not-so-bad job with this song. i don't think this song is racist but more about calling the chinese to stay together and be strong; while addressing the issues that needed much attention by the government (like how slow the government workers work) and the people of malaysia. maybe that's what worrying the malays so much it makes them scared. they don't want the chinese to become stronger in malaysia. i am a proud malay and all i care is racial harmony in malaysia but i am also a supporter for free speech and the right to voice my opinions. malaysia was not supposed to be a communist minded country, we shed blood and tears to get rid of that ideology many years ago.

if a simple song like this could make the malays freaked out so much, i wonder what they're going to do when they found out what the pro-communist political organization in malaysia is doing right now in the local universities...... that is another issue i'm learning bit by bit now. i suggest you do your own investigation.

anyways, this is the video, and below it is the english translation.

2007 Visit Malaysia Year Theme Song
I Love My Country
Negaraku

(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 kicapkicapkicapkicap 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 high)

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.

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