DAP man blasted on Facebook for questioning Negaraku in cinemas

(The Rakyat Post) – Sarawak DAP chaiman Chong Chieng Jen today incurred the wrath of netizens after questioning the government’s move in playing the national anthem Negaraku in cinemas.

Going as far as asking if Malaysia was headed towards a communist era, particularly the Chairman Mao era, Chong made the remark on his Facebook today after going for a movie at the MBO cinema in Kuching.

Asking when the practice started, it appeared as though Chong was not aware that the practice had started last year.

“The question is exactly what’s going on? Since when has this playing of national anthem in cinema started?

“Is Malaysia heading towards the communist Mao era where everywhere you go, you must shout out loud and show that you are a patriot.

“This is absolute disgrace n ridiculous. I would not know how to tell my friends overseas that we Malaysians r so patriotic that we play our national anthem before watching a movie,” he further wrote.

Cheekily, the posting ended with the following line, “Next would b before dinner, before bedtime, and maybe before S…”

The posting caught the attention of Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin who took to slamming the status update made by the Kuching Member of Parliament.

“Wow. I did not know the policy of playing Negaraku before a film starts at the cinema was tedious and ‘absolute disgrace n ridiculous’,” Khairy wrote on his Facebook page.

“Maybe it is you that is an ‘absolute disgrace n ridiculous’ Mr Chong,” Khairy added.

On his Facebook page, Chong also received backlash with one user, Ad Lee Yusof, saying: “Mr Chong … is that so difficult to stand for a while to show respect to your own country. You are a disgrace to the nation.”

Another user, Niki M Kamal, in a lengthy comment had also noted that this was something also practised in Thailand, and also shared a Trip Advisor link on Thai culture.

“Congratulations!!! You have just got promoted from Yang Berhormat to Yang BODOH!!!

“Stating that you stand up in the cinema but later posted on arguments on ‘why the need to play a national anthem before a movie and the need to stand up’ just shows the way your brain works.

“Everything is seen with a negativity attached to it.

“The national anthem have been played in cinemas to mark the month of the nation’s Independence & the establishment of Malaysia.

“And FYI, this is something that Thailand has been practising for some times,” Niki had written.

Going on a more lighthearted criticism, Suhaimi Wembley said: “lol … is it so hard to just stand n sing national anthem for a few minutes … not u need to pay for singing it … duh.”

Facebook user Khairil An wrote: “You, sir, are a disgrace to Malaysia, and DAP.”

Meanwhile, on Twitter, netizens had also gotten wind of the Facebook posting and shared their sentiments on the matter.

Twitter user ‏@The_Mamu wrote: “Dear Chong Chieng Jen. Cant seem to find ur twitter account. Just wanted to say, ‘Dude … what the eff?’”

Meanwhile, user @SyedRifqi99 wrote: “Are you kidding me? What a bloody disgrace.”