Namewee seeks funding for 1Malaysia film

Controversial Malaysian artiste NAMEWEE is one gutsy fellow who doesn’t seem to be afraid of anything. He’s made fun, lambasted and criticised everything – from the high crime rate in Johor Baru, a certain power utility company and even Chinese New Year songs on his controversial yet entertaining songs and online YouTube music videos.

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This time around though, the 27-year-old Muar-born artiste (whose real name is Wong Meng Chee) is looking to expand his horizons beyond YouTube – he’s planning to make a movie.

And not just any movie; he wants to make one about 1Malaysia. And as usual, Namewee is taking the hardest and most controversial route possible.

During a press conference at Berjaya Time Square, Kuala Lumpur, last week, he announced plans to apply for a grant from the National Film Development Corporation’s (Finas) Creative Industry Fund (which allocates RM200mil to finance film, drama, music and other creative projects).

“I think it’s great that under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s 1Malaysia initiative, the government has allocated RM200mil for the movie, art and entertainment industry,” he said. “However, many of my friends in the industry had advised me that it is impossible for Chinese movies to get the grant, because the script needs at least 60% Malay content to qualify.

“However, I am confident that my script meets all of Finas’ criteria, and I want to show everyone that no matter what race I am or language I use, I still deserve support from the government just like any other hardworking Malaysian citizen,” he said, adding that he will be submitting a Malay translation of the script, and is also planning to shoot a short documentary film of the entire application process to be posted online.

Although Namewee remained tight-lipped about the storyline, he said it would be like an extended but “cleaner” version of his popular videos on YouTube.

“Of course, there won’t be so much swearing in the movie. I want to present my version of 1Malaysia – a more realistic 1Malaysia story,” he said. “I believe that my presentation style will be well-accepted by the younger generation of Malaysians.”

Namewee first made headlines with his infamous Negarakuku YouTube music video in 2007, which caused a national outcry over its sampling of the national anthem.

Since returning home from his studies in Taiwan, he has released a DVD documentary called I Want To Go Home, written the theme songs for Singaporean movie Where Got Ghost?, which was part of the acclaimed online 15Malaysia short film project (appearing in Ho Yuhang’s Potong Saga and Benji Lim and Bahir Yeusuff’s Meter.)

He doesn’t believe the past controversies he had kicked up would or even should affect his chances of getting the grant.

“If they want to consider such factors, then it is out of my hands. However, I believe that my story conveys a very positive message about 1Malaysia, and that I have followed all their rules and regulations,” he said, adding that even if he does not get the grant, he still intends to go ahead with the film somehow.

Wee stressed that by publicising his intentions, he did not mean to challenge Finas into giving him the grant, but to prove to Chinese-Malaysians that even Chinese movies can get support, too.