Wee Meng Chee, known as Namewee on the Internet, has developed a cult following of sorts among young Malaysians after airing a six-minute rap video on YouTube last month that has been viewed by over half a million people.

The rap, which is a parody of the national anthem containing a mixture of Mandarin and Hokkien lyrics touched on a number of racially and religiously sensitive issues.

For this the 24-year-old media studies student, who is based in Taiwan, faces the full might of the state - he is being probed by the police and the Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Commission.

There was even suggestion that his citizenship could be revoked, and action is being mulled under the Sedition Act as well as the National Anthem Act.

While Wee has apologised, the government nevertheless vowed to punish him. The following are a selection of the reports and the subsequent discussion that took place in Malaysiakini on the issue.


NEWS REPORTS

Rapper Wee rapped in Dewan Rakyat
Gov't in quandary over YouTube rapper 
PKR Youth: Look at ‘Negarakuku’ objectively 
Negarakuku singer alleges Malay daily instigation 
NGOs: Don’t persecute artistic expressions 
Anwar raps attitude in anthem controversy 
I'm sorry, says Negarakuku rapper 
Let’s accept Wee’s apology: Zam 
Negarakuku apology: A hollow victory 
Cabinet rejects apology from rapper 
Rapper's citizenship will not be revoked 
Negarakuku video: PAS, DAP rap Umno 
Negarakuku: Let it rest, says MCA Youth 
'Negarakuku': MCMC launches probe 
Sedition: Charge both Wee and Umno 
Wee's rap song - what’s the big deal? 
'Negarakuku': Enough! ministry tells media 
‘New’ rap video made before ‘Negarakuku’: Wee 


OPINIONS

• Monkey business as usual
• Write, blog and rap to roll the rage
• Negarakuku: Selepas bukit digunungkan

Below are the Letters to the Editor on the Negarakuku issue [below the comment box]