A rapper in Muslim-majority Malaysia is under police investigation for allegedly insulting Islam with a Lunar New Year video that features dancers wearing dog masks and performing suggestive moves, reports said Monday.

The video features controversial rapper Wee Meng Chee, known by his stage name Namewee, sitting on a chair in front of a domed building and mimicking barks of canines from around the world.

Several black-clad dancers wearing masks of dogs -- an animal considered unclean in Islam -- gyrate around him, with two of them mimicking a &quot;doggy-style&quot; sex move.

The video, which marks the start of the Year of the Dog currently being celebrated across Asia, generated accusations that it was filmed in front of a mosque in the administrative capital Putrajaya.

National police chief Mohamad Fuzi Harun reportedly said a probe had been launched into the artist -- who is from the country&#39;s ethnic Chinese minority -- for hurting religious feelings and &quot;transmitting offensive communications&quot;.

Namewee, who is reported to be abroad, faces up to a year in jail if found guilty.

In a YouTube video, the rapper denied having insulted Islam and said that the domed building visible in the background was the prime minister&#39;s office, not a mosque.

&quot;The reports saying I insulted Islam are not true,&quot; he said. &quot;We did not film the music video at any place of worship. It was done in an open area.&quot;

The probe was launched after complaints from Muslim groups and public criticism from the deputy prime minister over the video, which has more than 700,000 views on YouTube since being released on February 10.

Lunar New Year is a major celebration in Malaysia, where a quarter of the population are from the Chinese diaspora, but the Year of the Dog has proved sensitive.&nbsp;

Some shops have avoided displaying canine imagery in their decorations for fear of causing offence.

Namewee has repeatedly been at the centre of controversy. In 2016, he was detained for several days for allegedly insulting Islam over a video partly filmed inside a mosque.

Malaysia generally practises a moderate form of Islam but religious tensions have escalated in recent years, with concerns growing over a rise in conservative Islamic attitudes.

The video features controversial rapper Wee Meng Chee, known by his stage name Namewee, sitting on a chair in front of a domed building and mimicking barks of canines from around the world

A rapper in Muslim-majority Malaysia is under police investigation for allegedly insulting Islam with a Lunar New Year video that features dancers wearing dog masks and performing suggestive moves, reports said Monday. The video features controversial rapper Wee Meng Chee, known by his stage name Namewee, sitting on a chair in front of a domed building and mimicking barks of canines from around the world. Several black-clad dancers wearing masks of dogs -- an animal considered unclean in Islam -- gyrate around him, with two of them mimicking a "doggy-style" sex move. The video, which marks the start of the Year of the Dog currently being celebrated across Asia, generated accusations that it was filmed in front of a mosque in the administrative capital Putrajaya. National police chief Mohamad Fuzi Harun reportedly said a probe had been launched into the artist -- who is from the country's ethnic Chinese minority -- for hurting religious feelings and "transmitting offensive communications". Namewee, who is reported to be abroad, faces up to a year in jail if found guilty. In a YouTube video, the rapper denied having insulted Islam and said that the domed building visible in the background was the prime minister's office, not a mosque. "The reports saying I insulted Islam are not true," he said. "We did not film the music video at any place of worship. It was done in an open area." The probe was launched after complaints from Muslim groups and public criticism from the deputy prime minister over the video, which has more than 700,000 views on YouTube since being released on February 10. Lunar New Year is a major celebration in Malaysia, where a quarter of the population are from the Chinese diaspora, but the Year of the Dog has proved sensitive. Some shops have avoided displaying canine imagery in their decorations for fear of causing offence. Namewee has repeatedly been at the centre of controversy. In 2016, he was detained for several days for allegedly insulting Islam over a video partly filmed inside a mosque. Malaysia generally practises a moderate form of Islam but religious tensions have escalated in recent years, with concerns growing over a rise in conservative Islamic attitudes.

Malaysian rapper probed over Lunar New Year dog video

The word &quot;Allah&quot; and sounds of the Islamic call to prayer were said to be used in the four-minute Mandarin music video, titled &quot;Oh My God&quot; 
 
A popular Malaysian rapper and film director has been arrested over a music video which allegedly disrespects Islam, the national news agency said. 
 
Namewee, whose real name is Wee Meng Chee, was arrested at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport where he was returning from overseas, the Bernama agency said late Sunday. 
 
The word &quot;Allah&quot; and sounds of the Islamic call to prayer were said to be used in the four-minute Mandarin music video, titled &quot;Oh My God.&quot; 
 
The video featured footage of Namewee and other singers, dressed in outfits representing various cultures and religions, performing inside a mosque and a church as well as at Hindu, Buddhist, and Taoist temples. 
 
Malaysia generally practises a moderate brand of Islam. But religious tensions have simmered in recent years, with Muslim moderates and followers of other religions expressing concern at a steady rise of conservative Islamic attitudes. 
 
Earlier this year, cinema posters and a billboard advertisement for a Hong Kong blockbuster film were modified to erase a half-man, half-pig character. Pork and its by-products are forbidden under the religion. 
 
In July, several groups filed police reports claiming Namewee&#39;s music video had insulted Islam. 
 
In response, he posted a YouTube video explaining that he had no intention of insulting any religion and that the song was written to &quot;promote harmony.&quot; 
 
The original music video is no longer available online but an edited version without footage of the mosque scenes was uploaded on Youtube over the weekend. 
 
Namewee, who is also popular in Taiwan, is no stranger to controversy and has ruffled political and religious feathers on several occasions over the years. 
 
He first hit the headlines in 2007 when he posted a video that featured him rapping to Malaysia&#39;s national anthem using allegedly seditious lyrics. 
 
In the introduction to the video, which shows a Malaysian flag in the background, Namewee dedicated the song to &quot;all Malaysians, especially the government.&quot;

(AFP)

The video featured footage of Namewee and other singers performing inside a mosque, a church, Hindu, Buddhist, and Taoist temples

The word "Allah" and sounds of the Islamic call to prayer were said to be used in the four-minute Mandarin music video, titled "Oh My God" A popular Malaysian rapper and film director has been arrested over a music video which allegedly disrespects Islam, the national news agency said. Namewee, whose real name is Wee Meng Chee, was arrested at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport where he was returning from overseas, the Bernama agency said late Sunday. The word "Allah" and sounds of the Islamic call to prayer were said to be used in the four-minute Mandarin music video, titled "Oh My God." The video featured footage of Namewee and other singers, dressed in outfits representing various cultures and religions, performing inside a mosque and a church as well as at Hindu, Buddhist, and Taoist temples. Malaysia generally practises a moderate brand of Islam. But religious tensions have simmered in recent years, with Muslim moderates and followers of other religions expressing concern at a steady rise of conservative Islamic attitudes. Earlier this year, cinema posters and a billboard advertisement for a Hong Kong blockbuster film were modified to erase a half-man, half-pig character. Pork and its by-products are forbidden under the religion. In July, several groups filed police reports claiming Namewee's music video had insulted Islam. In response, he posted a YouTube video explaining that he had no intention of insulting any religion and that the song was written to "promote harmony." The original music video is no longer available online but an edited version without footage of the mosque scenes was uploaded on Youtube over the weekend. Namewee, who is also popular in Taiwan, is no stranger to controversy and has ruffled political and religious feathers on several occasions over the years. He first hit the headlines in 2007 when he posted a video that featured him rapping to Malaysia's national anthem using allegedly seditious lyrics. In the introduction to the video, which shows a Malaysian flag in the background, Namewee dedicated the song to "all Malaysians, especially the government." (AFP)

Malaysian rapper reportedly detained for 'insulting Islam'

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