Australian entertainer Kamahl has said he will vote no in the upcoming Voice to Parliament referendum.
The Malaysian-born entertainer, 88, who rose to fame in Australia, said he did not understand what the advisory body would mean for the country.
He also shared a meme of John Farnham’s song You’re The Voice, which is now the soundtrack for the Yes campaign, but changed the lyrics to reflect his personal views.
‘What is the voice, I just don’t understand it. It’s just noise and it’s not clear. Vote no-o-oh-oh,” read the meme Kamahl shared.
‘We are not going to vote for apartheid. We don’t want any racing privileges. Vote no-o-oh-oh.”
Along with the meme, Kamahl said he voted no because “I don’t understand it all.”
Australian entertainer Kamahl has announced he will vote no in the upcoming Voice to Parliament referendum
“If you really want to know why I’m voting NO, it’s because of ‘What does Australia mean to me?’ It’s the song I recorded in 1988, but no one listened!’ he said in a follow-up tweet.
“Now please listen to it. It’s not too late! It’s on YouTube!!!’
Kamahl said his “neighbors down the street” and the “smiling faces I meet” was what Australia meant to him at the 1988 circuit.
“The children in the playground and Christmas in the sun, the G’day and the handshake are Australia to me,” he sang.
“The people who just came here, from countries all over the world.
‘Those who built this country, the atmosphere of freedom. To me, the right to express your own opinion is Australia… and the dreams of the people who have been here for a million years.
Kamahl also shared a meme of John Farnham’s song You’re The Voice, which is now the soundtrack for the Yes campaign, but changed the lyrics to reflect his personal opinion.
‘I love this sunburned country, so vital, young and free, with the promise of tomorrow – that is Australia for me.
‘But above all the people, that is Australia for me.’
Kamahl’s views sparked fierce debate online, with many saying they were “disappointed” with the singer’s posts.
“Wow, the fact that you’re trying to get YouTube views as part of this discussion is absolutely disgusting,” one person replied.
“So you want me to listen to your voice, but not an indigenous voice. Yes No!’ said another.
“You of all people should vote yes, very disappointing,” said another.
“Kamahl, I’ve always respected you, but I’m sorry, but that’s just not good enough. You are a smart person, find out,” said one Twitter user.
Others applauded Kamahl for his stance, with one saying they were glad a “national treasure” voted No.
Kamahl answered a Yes voter and said he respected their choice.
Anthony Albanese announced that the referendum would take place on October 14
‘Unfortunately, we humans believe way too much, like 90%, but KNOW less than 10%. Religion is built on FAITH with about 4000 books. There is only ONE about science. I think I need something to drink,” Kamahl replied.
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Kamahl admitted he had not been fully trained in the Voice and said it was possible he could change his mind.
“I have to admit that I might go back and do some more homework on it before I finally vote, I’ve been a bit lazy,” he said.
“I was a little lighthearted because of the song. “I’ve known John (Farnham) since 1971 and I was a little surprised that the number was used – if it was used with his full knowledge or if he was conned into giving it out.”
Kamahl said he wanted to talk to someone on both sides of the argument so he could make an informed decision.
‘I don’t know what is there and what isn’t. “I don’t know if they’re creating something out of nothing,” he said.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt about the need for more inclusivity for Indigenous people, but I don’t know if this is the way to do it.
‘It’s very political, but I don’t want to get into a political storm. The answer is in the song (What is Australia to me).”
In addition to his decades-long music career that saw him perform at venues such as the Opera House and Big Day Out, Kamahl also appeared on television and appeared on the comedy sketch show Hey Hey It’s Saturday in the 1980s.
Kamahl later came out and said he felt “humiliated” by some of the racist jokes on the beloved program.
“There were some instances where I felt humiliated, but I didn’t want to object or protest against it,” he said.
He explained that he dealt with it by smiling and “pretending everything was fine” because he didn’t want to ruin his own career.
A montage of some of the most controversial Hey Hey gags involving Kamahl was shared on social media, mainly drawing comments in support of the singer.
One sketch showed an assistant rushing over to Kamahl and covering his face in white powder, before an off-screen voice shouted, “You’re a real white man now, Kamahl, you know that?”
Earlier this year, Kamahl demanded that ABC broadcaster Phillip Adams publicly apologize for branding him an “honorary white man.”
Kamahl said he felt “humiliated” by Adams after the longtime ABC radio host claimed cricket great Don Bradman had treated the Malaysian-born entertainer as an “honorary white” in a since-deleted tweet.
In a widely shared post in December, Adams contrasted Bradman’s 13-year friendship with Kamahl with his reluctance to meet former South African President Nelson Mandela.
“Obviously Kamahl (Bradman) has made you an Honorary White. While one of the most prominent political figures of the twentieth century was deemed unworthy of Bradman’s approval,” Adams wrote.
Kamahl responded to Adams on Twitter by saying, “You may be white, but oh your soul is black!”