Popular Malaysian rapper gets charged with drug use, possession
(MENAFN) Malaysian rapper Namewee has been formally charged with illegal drug use and possession, according to reports citing local authorities. The 42-year-old artist, known for his provocative music tackling topics such as religion, obscenity, and censorship, pleaded not guilty to both charges and was released on bail following his arrest last month.
In an Instagram post on Sunday, Namewee denied any involvement with drugs, writing: "The truth will be out when the police report is released."
Authorities said Namewee was apprehended on 22 October in a hotel room where pills believed to be ecstasy were discovered. Subsequent tests indicated the presence of amphetamines, methamphetamine, ketamine, and THC, leading to a two-day remand. Police noted that, if convicted, Namewee could face up to five years in prison and caning.
Reports indicate he had been staying in the same hotel as Taiwanese influencer Iris Hsieh, who was found dead in her hotel bathtub. On Instagram, Namewee expressed his condolences, writing that he felt "deeply sorry" and that the ambulance had taken "nearly an hour" to arrive.
He added that he remained silent due to ongoing investigations and claimed he had been subject to "blackmail" but would "fight to the end."
Namewee’s music has often sparked controversy. In 2016, he was arrested over a video filmed at various Malaysian places of worship, which critics said insulted religious sensitivities. His 2021 release Fragile, which satirized Chinese nationalists and addressed sensitive topics like Taiwan’s sovereignty and the persecution of Uyghurs, became popular among Mandarin-speaking audiences but was banned in China.
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