KUALA LUMPUR – No stranger to controversy, Malaysian singer-songwriter Namewee has defended his popular ballad “Fragile” after he was banished from China and accused of advocating independence for Hong Kong and Taiwan.
He was quoted by Variety magazine as saying that he is a lover of Chinese culture and has nothing against Chinese people.
“I am (ethnically) Chinese. Am I insulting myself?” Namewee said in a statement published on his Instagram account.
“I do not want to go to China because there are too much censorship and restrictions, and I’m afraid that they will affect my creativity and my work. I do not want to lose the original intent of my creations. That’s all,” he told the magazine.
“I have never said anything (about Hong Kong and Taiwan independence). If you don’t believe me, you can do a search. You should ask the people of Hong Kong and Taiwan what they think. My nationality is Malaysian. I cannot speak on their behalf.
“But I will definitely stand with freedom and democracy. The human rights that we were born with are universal values, and that is what (I am) after as a Malaysian. This is why people take to the streets to protest over and over again.”
The Mandarin ballad featuring Australian Chinese singer Kimberley Chen courted furore as critics said the song’s idioms and metaphors can be seen as mocking the “Little Pinks”.
Little Pinks is a reference to China’s young keyboard warriors who profess nationalism online.
The music video was also a subject of criticism as it features pink objects, a dancing panda, and stuffed toys that resembled bats.
Since its debut on October 15, the video has amassed millions of views and has been trending in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Namewee also faces persecution in Malaysia as he had been arrested several times after certain groups deemed his work insulting to their religion and race. – The Vibes, October 28, 2021
