Ignore Namawee, don't give him attention: Khairy

PETALING JAYA: People should have just ignored the stunt pulled by controversial rapper Wee Meng Chee, popularly known by his stage name Namewee, instead of giving him attention, said Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
Branding the rapper as an "idiot", Khairy said all of the attention given to Namewee recently would just provide him with free publicity.
While noting that he did not object to the investigation against Namewee, Khairy said it was best for the rapper to be ignored.
"We already know that he is an idiot. So just laugh him off or ignore him," he said.
"If we keep giving him the attention, it will only give him the publicity. Just ignore people like this," he told a press conference at the launch of Skuad Operasi Sihat Negaraku TN50 (SOSNTN50) at Perkarangan Stesen BHPetrol Station Kg Sg Kayu Ara, Damansara.
The 34-year-old rapper caused another controversy with his latest music video Like A Dog, which depicted a group of men wearing dog masks performing vulgar dances near the Perdana Putra building.
Namewee has been remanded by the police to facilitate investigations into the controversial video.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi last week stressed that action would definitely be taken against the rapper following the video.
Earlier in his speech, Khairy said he hopes the SOSNTN50 initiative would be able to raise the awareness of Malaysians over their health.
He noted that Malaysia recorded the highest rate of obesity in the Southeast Asia region, as well as heart related diseases and diabetes.
"We are facing a ticking time bomb. If we are unable to change the lifestyle of Malaysians now, it will bring about greater problems in the future," he said.
The SOSNTN50 initiative is a collaboration between Boustead Group, Pharmaniaga Berhad and BHPetrol as part of an effort under the TN50 Youth Initiative.
Under the programme, free health check activities would be provided at selected BHPetrol stations once a month.
The public can monitor their body mass index, blood pressure and blood glucose level, as well as consult with medical experts.