Malaysian rapper's dog video sparks claim of insulting Islam

Malaysian police said a popular ethnic Chinese rapper has been detained over complaints that his latest music video featuring dancers wearing dog masks and performing "obscene" moves insulted Islam and could hurt racial harmony.

FILE - In this Aug. 22, 2016, file photo, Wee Meng Chee, left, a Malaysian rapper popularly known as Namewee, is escorted by plainclothes policemen on his arrival at the magistrate court in Penang, Malaysia. Malaysian police said in a statement that Wee was detained Thursday, Feb. 23, 2018 after they received four public complaints that his video marking the Chinese year of the dog had “insulted Islam and could negatively impact racial unity and harmony.” (AP Photo/Gary Chuah, File)

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It was the second time in two years that Wee Meng Chee, popularly known as Namewee, has been investigated over his music videos.

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Police said in a statement that Wee was detained Thursday after they received four public complaints that his video marking the Chinese year of the dog had "insulted Islam and could negatively impact racial unity and harmony."

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In the video entitled "Like a Dog," Wee sits on a chair in a public square in the government administrative capital of Putrajaya with dancers wearing dog masks around him. Several of them mimic the "doggy-style" sex move. A green domed building in the background led some people to speculate it was filmed in front of a mosque, leading to criticism, but Wee later said it was the prime minister's office.

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The song includes the sounds of dog barks from various countries. In an apparent reference to government corruption, Wee sings that dogs in Malaysia go "mari mari, wang wang," which in the Malay language means "come come, money money."

Photo via video capture

Photo via video capture

Dogs are considered unclean by Muslims, who account for 60 percent of Malaysia's 32 million people.

Several ministers have called for Wee to be arrested. He has defended the video as a form of entertainment and said he has no intention of disrespecting any race or religion.

Earlier Thursday, Wee posted a picture on Facebook of himself at the federal police headquarters as he was wanted by police for questioning.

"I am not afraid because I believe Malaysia has justice," he said.

In 2016, he was detained after enraged Malay Islamic activists lodged complaints that a video titled "Oh My God," which was filmed in front of various places of worship and used the word "Allah," which means God in the Malay language, was rude and disrespectful to Islam. He was not charged.

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In one of his earliest videos, he mocked the national anthem and was criticized for racial slurs. He also produced a movie that was banned by the government in 2014 for portraying national agencies in a negative way.

Photo via video capture

Race and religion are sensitive issues in Malaysia, where the ethnic Malay majority has generally lived peacefully with large Chinese and Indian minorities since racial riots in 1969 left at least 200 people dead.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia is preparing for its worst floods in a decade after heavier-than-expected monsoon rains caused severe flooding that killed three people and displaced more than 90,000.

The National Disaster Command Center online portal said Friday that 94,778 people, from more than 28,000 families, across nine states were evacuated to 527 temporary shelters. The northeastern state of Kelantan, bordering Thailand, was the worst affected, with 63,761 people evacuated from their homes, followed by neighboring Terengganu with 22, 511.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Friday that all Cabinet ministers were banned from going on vacation. He said they have been instructed to provide assistance in flood-prone areas.

“All ministers have been told to go to the ground. Yes, leave has been frozen for them,” Anwar was quoted as saying by national Bernama news agency.

His deputy, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who heads the disaster response, said Thursday that floods this year were expected to be worse than 2014, when more than 250,000 people were displaced and 21 killed. He was cited by local media as saying that weather forecast indicated that heavy rainfall next month would likely affect more states.

Zahid was quoted by New Straits Times as saying that government agencies were prepared to tackle the disaster. Nearly 83,000 personnel and thousands of rescue boats, four-wheel vehicles and life jackets as well as 31 helicopters are ready, he said. The government has also identified 8,481 temporary evacuation centers nationwide that can accommodate over two million people, he said.

“Given the severity of the situation, all parties have been mobilized to ensure the safety and welfare of flood victims,” he was quoted as saying by national Bernama news agency.

Floods are common in parts of Malaysia during the annual monsoon season, that starts in November and could last until March. The Meteorological Department has said the country can expect between five and seven episodes of heavy rainfall during this period.

Motorist cross a flooded street after heavy monsoon rains in downtown Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Loo Kok Chong)

Residents walk on a flooded street after heavy monsoon rains in downtown Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Loo Kok Chong)

Residents walk on a flooded street after heavy monsoon rains in downtown Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Loo Kok Chong)