Negarakuku?

A recent rap video released on YouTube by a Malaysian student nicknamed NAMEWEE studying in Taiwan brought quite a blow to the government and some Malaysians.

The song is actually in Mandarin or Cantonese (I'm not sure because I haven't actually seen the video on YouTube because my office blocks it) but basically it's not in English or Malay. But I found this site that has a translation to the song. Enjoy!

By NAMEWEE

Literal translation by NICOLE FOO

Intro credits:
2007 Visit Malaysia Year Theme Song
I Love My Country
Negaraku

(Repeat) Check it out, yo, yo, yo.

(Repeat) Negaraku, Negarakuku.

I love my country, only when you have a country you have a home
Only with a home then there will be me, standing here with you
Loudly singing, don’t be afraid
Even though I curse all the time
My song, is just like the durian
Tough and spiky, only
To see if you dare to open it, to look at the truth inside
It can be very stinky, it can be very fragrant
It only depends on what kind of nostrils you have.

Our police is called Mata
Because they have very shiny eyes
Once it’s New Year, they will be very hard working
Holding pens but they will rarely write you a receipt
Because they are thirsty, they need to drink tea
Also kopi-O, want to add sugar?
If they add sugar, their mouths will sweetly smile at you
When you are leaving
They will even go “Tata.”

Negaraku
Tanah tumpahnya darahku
Rakyat hidup bersatu dan maju.

This phenomenon, doesn’t need any improvements
Neither does it need strengthening, the police and the people work together
A cup of coffee keeps our relationship temperate
I so very suka
At least I won’t go home and receive a saman (fine or ticket)
My dad would sure be pissed
I would also kiong kan (swear word in Cantonese for “get raped”), with no car to drive
What to do, this time so very kao lat (an expression, something like aiyo)
With no car, how do I go out and play?
With no car, how do I wage “wild war”? (I don’t know what it means but I assume it has something to do with a girl)
With no car, how do I go and watch ah kua? (transvestites)
This country, I like it very much.

5 in the morning
There’s even a morning call to wake me up
Sometimes a few of them will sing together
When you listen to it, it’s like a love duet
The voice ululates like an R&B song
Even though sometimes they sing until it’s out of tune
Even though sometimes they even sing until their voices break
Some sound like cockerels, but they wake up earlier than them
This way we can know the time to get ready for class and for work
Don’t blame, the government only takes cares of the natives
Don’t blame, we don’t receive equal care
Only this way we can prove that we Chinese are not afraid of hard work
Only this way we can train ourselves to find a solution during hard times
Don’t feel weird about their standards
Because this only shows that we are smart (or capable)
Children who are not spoilt will not be dependant
Because you see some children are still not weaned off breast-feeding.

Rahmat bahagia
Tuhan kurniakan
Raja kita
Selamat bertakhta.

People who hide in government departments are even better (even more capable)
They can do everything so slowly
Even when people are queuing, are cursing stinky lelai (what’s that?)
They’re chill and unfazed
Sometimes they even bring out their kuih
They eat their nyonya kuih
More people will continue queuing up
Even when you curse stinky lelai it doesn’t matter
Because the guard at the side is dreaming
And he won’t scold you one lah.

They wrap up their heads; walk slowly and cross the road slowly
When you pass in the car you even have to let them pass first
The most important thing is to live happily; the most important thing is to live comfortably
Don’t be like the Chinese
Busy the whole day, very tough
We really cannot NOT admire this spirit
Because this is their attitude in life.

(Attitude, attitude)

I’ve been saying good things in this song
I believe those of you who are pissed at me will like this now
The world is peaceful, and full of hope
No one is hurt, there aren’t any riots
You’re so classy, you’re so elegant
Your shit is fragrant, and you don’t curse
You guys are the most high class, every day it’s just romancing

Listening to Guang Liang Pin Guan (this local Chinese artiste)
But he already ran to Taiwan
Private school students graduate
It’s so very tough to get admitted into local universities
Actually we don’t have to get pissed about this issue
Actually this is the a very noble plan by the government
They want us to explore the world, to find new opportunities for ourselves
To learn things and come back and repay the country
This is plan is so great, I can’t quibble about it
All over the world you can see Malaysia’s children
They’re like refugees, so very shiok (expression for orgasm or high)

2007, Malaysia’s having Visit Malaysia Year
The Chinese culture is brought out and paraded
The government doesn’t even care about private school students
The certificate is thrown into the longkang (ditch), just like me

Graduated and went to Taiwan
Learned about things, and got ready to come back to repay my country
I stood on the streets of Taipei with my guitar
But my mouth still sings.

Rahmat Bahagia
Tuhan kurniakan
Raja kita Selamat bertakhta.

*****

Well, what do you guys think?

Personally, in terms of creativity I give him an A + with a golden star.

But of course, he is quite insulting and vulgar with his words. And well, it's upfront too and well, obviously the government isn't going to like THIS.

It's like he's provoking the tolerant attitude that the Malaysians have had for so many years. It's like he's pointing the obvious inequality for other races compared to the bumiputeras. It's like he's basically inviting another May 13 tragedy. "Yay!"

Honestly, does he not realize that sometimes the government is doing this for precautions?

Call me a racist or naive or whatever but I'll tell you this : imagine what would happen if we Malaysians stop tolerating each other. Imagine if we were all racists. Imagine if we all ganged up and wanted to "bring down" other races.

How many people would die?

And who would be the bread winner?

This is why when it comes to race issues and the inequalities in Malaysia, it becomes taboo. I mean, do we really want to have a Ku Klux Klan in this country?

Please, let's stick to tolerance. Or otherwise bugger off this country.

But I'll tell you for free. Racism is everywhere in this world.

You can't run from it ESPECIALLY in the developed nations. Because everybody wants to be rich. And when competition gets tough because you compete with other foreigners who come out of nowhere, well, yeah, racism remarks (whether in front or behind your back irregardless of your impeccable qualification) will follow.

But all that aside, his lyrics pretty much shows some realities that we Malaysians go through i.e government being slow, police can be bribed etc. Those are common complaints in most developing countries of the world so you know, it's no biggie.

And if you're wondering if I am insulted with him rapping about how the people who Azan or read the Quran sound like cockerels. Well, even after reading his own version of translation in Malay and comparing it to the one above, I know for a fact he didn't directly mean to insult Islam.

I mean to me, he's just saying it's a symbol of time to wake up in the morning in Malaysia and also that there are some bad sounding Azan and Quran 5 am readers than some others.

It is to a certain extent insulting to the Imam though as he's the dude who picks the people who will do the Azan and read the morning Quran in the PA system. He should choose those with better voices?

Then again, not many people have beautiful voices. So its not a religion issue. It's just a voice issue.

Isn't it always? Heh.

So yeah, like I said. Insulting to some Malaysians.

So NAMEWEE, I must say that you are very brave and I admire your courage. You should come back and take over MCA (or form your own party) and set things right instead of being in Taiwan. It would be fascinating to see how you could change the country.

I wonder if you can.

But I hear he's in big trouble now. BIG trouble. Like government cabinet big.

Tough luck.