Wee Meng Chee, better known to Malaysians as Namewee, is a figure of controversy. He became famous for Negarakuku, a love song to Malaysia that nevertheless highlighted racial frustrations. He got into trouble for Fuck TNB, a video reaction to an unannounced power cut and Tenaga Nasional's subsequent indifference. We talk to him about music, illegal VCDs and media hype.

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How did you get interested in music?

Both my parents love singing, so I got into music since I was a baby. I picked up the guitar when I was 15 because a girl I liked (at the time) said she loved to see guys playing guitar. Eventually, I started to write songs but I didn't get the girl...

We understand you were exposed to foreign music via the handy medium of illegal CDs. Any stories from when you were a VCD seller?

I sold VCDs in a shopping complex when I was 16 as a part time job. I was exposed to many different kinds of music. 

One day, I driving to work, on a bike without a helmet. A policeman caught me, so I apologised, brought him to my shop, and gave him two XXX VCDs. After that, he started to bring his kids to our shop to buy cartoons, and R-rated movies. This is pretty funny, right? Haha!

Who are your favourite music artists?

I remember many of my Malay friends loving Nirvana. That influenced me to start liking Nirvana.  I guess Nirvana has influenced me deeply, until today -- not only their music, but their "free spirit"!

Why make rap music, in particular? How, to you, is the form relevant to Malaysians?

Actually, I make music in different styles. I've composed close to 500 songs - love songs, R&B, Rock, Metal, Jazz, Blues, Funk - as a musician, I enjoy trying out different things. Rap is just a very, very small part of my music.

But I upload and share my rap music 'cause YouTube is very "open", and the lyrics I write in my rap have no limits -- it's away to share my opinions, my feelings about social issues, and my life. I guess I'm just a regular blogger, I have to express myself but the difference is I use music.

Your famous track, Negarakuku, become an Internet sensation and courted controversy. How do you feel about that song, now? Do you still stand by the criticisms you raise in that song?

I feel there was so much controversy over Negarakuku because of politicians and the media hyping everything up. For me, that song is not the most controversial of my music ... 

Tell us about Fuck TNB.

I was in the middle of my song-writing work, as usual, when the power went off suddenly. I lost the song I was working on, entirely. TNB spent more than three hours to fix it the power cut, so I shot the Fuck TNB video in three hours also.

TNB didn't contact me directly, but one day my mom saw some guys taking pictures in front of my house in Muar. My mom asked who they were. They told her they were from TNB, then ran away immediately ...

In December, the police summoned me to Muar Police Station for investigation. TNB had made a report relating to my video incident. I also received a letter from the Energy Commission, asking me to meet them in January.     

What are you working on now and what's next for you?

I'm a musician and video director. I'm planning to shoot a film in 2010. I hope I can get financial support from FINAS (the National Film Development Corporation). My film will be about 1Malaysia -- so I hope I can get sponsorship and endorsement from the government.

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Text Zedeck Siew

Article taken from KLue Magazine February 2009, Issue 136.