Still, what was going through Sinchew's mind? Wouldn't it have made more sense to release the article on the day of the release of the film itself (instead of two days before)?
Anyway, the following is my (very quick) attempt at translating the article, which you can read after you've seen the short and come up with your own interpretations of it. As far as translations go, it's not 100% to the mark, but I think it will suffice. It didn't help that the article seemed to be hastily written, as it seemed to contain grammatical mistakes and lots and lots of repetitive phrases. First, the actual article:
凱里：馬來劍送黃明志象徵友好‧《Meter》示範種族和諧
（吉隆坡）巫青團長凱里與改版國歌惹風波的黃明志這兩個爭議性人物在15Malaysia短片《Meter》同台演出，還演出送馬來劍的戲碼，但是凱里說，他們倆早已“冰釋前嫌”，一同演出是要帶出各種族摒棄猜疑，可以和諧共處的訊息。
這出將於週三（9月9日）發佈的短片備受矚目，兩人參與演出，而且凱里在戲里化身為一個草根司機，對國家大事一一批評，有意想不到的效果。
向導演建議與明志合演
凱里接受《星洲日報》專訪時表示，事實上是他向導演林銘志建議，採用黃明志作為最後送馬來劍的演員。
他說，雖然他和黃明志同台演出，人們自然會各自標簽，說他是巫青團長，而黃明志曾經鬧過備受爭議的國歌風波；一個是馬來主義者，另一個是華人主義者。
“在短片情節中，他驚嘆馬來劍很漂亮，我送馬來劍給他作為為禮物，而他可以接受，這顯示各族之間沒有互相猜疑，凱里和黃明志，馬來及華裔青年的象徵，是可以互相尊重，互相和諧相處。
我們為了人民，可以做出這樣的示范。”
詢及送馬來劍的情節會不會引起爭議時，凱里說，事實上馬來劍是馬來文化的象徵，戲中他送馬來劍給黃明志，更有象徵友好交往的意義。
“馬來劍的確過去曾被政治化，渲染成爭議性的象徵，但我們想表達的是，只要馬來劍不被渲染成爭議性物品，它可以是互相分享的橋梁。
改編國歌風波應結束
他也強調，雖然黃明志曾經因為改編國歌而被巫統極力批評，但是他覺得黃明志已經就此事公開道歉後，事情應該已經結束。
“我不認為應該對一個人做出永久的判刑，既然他已經道歉了，為何我們還要繼續糾纏下去？繼續否定他？讓他覺得沒有人有寬闊的胸懷來原諒他！如果我們還要玩弄這課題，我們幾時才會見得到全民團結的曙光？”
他說，國歌風波已是幾年的事情，畢竟這也是黃明志年少時的想法，可能現在想法已經不一樣了，他說，他也在演出時與黃明志接觸，並不覺得黃明志特別極端，只是一個有想法的人，而他希望他們的演出可以帶出全民團結的訊息。
自嘲方式傳達訊息
大家應尊重彼此想法
凱里表示，馬來西亞的政治太嚴肅了，所以他在《Meter》以自嘲方式演出，希望通過幽默方式傳達訊息。
“有時我們在政治上需要自嘲一下，只要可以傳達訊息，有甚麼錯誤？事實上許多國家，不只是西方國家，都有政治人物自嘲的文化，自嘲文化是一門藝術，但未必是政治化。”
他說，他在短片中所要傳達的訊息是，每個人都有其想法，應該互相尊重，而不是用過於粗暴、極端或過於虛偽的態度看待。
“我相信馬來西亞民眾有幽默的文化來看待這短片。對我來說，這是一個對社會民眾的教育過程，有時對於一件事情，不要持有過於保守的想法。”
喜歡《Potong Saga》和《House》
他說，他當初參與15Malaysia是因為認同張子夫所推動的藝結聯盟（MAFU）的反種族主義運動，因此他參與15Malaysia，希望可通過這平台向民眾，尤其是年輕人傳達團結的訊息。
他幾乎看過所有已經發佈的作品，每一出都有其傳達的訊息，尤其喜歡《Potong Saga》和《House》。
“《Potong Saga》以幽默手法展現非馬來人對於回教銀行的誤解，顯示各族之間並不瞭解彼此的文化，而《house》更是傳達一個人道訊息，需要照顧被邊緣化的人民。當然，電影是藝術，不需被視為侮辱或刻版化任何一個種族，但藝術應該對這社會所發生的事情有批判性，讓觀眾思考。”
詢及參與這計劃會否會引起保守派不滿時，凱里表示，這計劃是為年輕人而作，他們擁有更加開明和開放的想法，也比較容易接受不同的想法，因此瞭解現代藝術的民眾自然會陣子，至於保守的民眾，任何事情他們都會以一樣的態度來批評。
“我並沒有想過參與演出會帶來甚麼樣的政治衝擊，我做此事，因為我相信這計劃。”
演技讓人“大開眼界”
退出政壇可當演員”
對於短片中的演出，凱里笑說，如果哪一天退出政壇後，他倒可以做一個專業演員。
看過有關短片的民眾，大多都對凱里口沫橫飛的演出“大開眼界”，甚至公正黨策略主任蔡添強還指他是演出最好的其中一名演員。
不過，凱里也表示，他只是導演的工具，他們的對白和故事，都是和導演、監制及其他演員的集體創作。
他希望觀眾瞭解短片所帶出的訊息，至於他的演出，就待觀眾去評估。
***
Translation
KHAIRY: IN PRESENTING NAMEWEE WITH THE KERIS AS A SIGN OF FRIENDSHIP, 'METER' DEMONSTRATES RACIAL HARMONY
(Kuala Lumpur) Two controversial figures, UMNO Youth Leader Khairy Jamaluddin and Namewee who once re-arranged the national anthem both appear in the 15Malaysia short film 'Meter', which contains a scene where a keris was presented as a gift. But Khairy stated that they have long buried the hatchet, and the purpose in appearing together in the same film is to send out a message of different races dropping their distrust towards each other and being capable of living together harmoniously.
This short, which is to be released this Wednesday (9th September), is highly-anticipated, and sees Khairy acting as a grassroots level taxi driver, criticising a number of major national issues, with unexpected consequences.
Khairy indicated during an interview with Sin Chew Jit Poh that, in fact, he was the one who suggested to director Lim Benji to get Namewee to play the character who receives the keris at the end of the short.
He said, people might naturally just see the labels when seeing him and Namewee together: that he is the UMNO Youth Leader, while Namewee is the young man who once caused an uproar with his rendition of Negarakuku; that one is Malay-centric and the other Chinese-centric.
"In the short, Namewee remarks that the keris is beautiful, so my character offers it to him as a gift, and he willingly accepts. This indicates that there is no more mistrust between the races – Khairy and Namewee, representing the Malay and Chinese youths, are actually able to offer mutual respect and co-exist harmoniously. We set this example for the rakyat."
When asked whether the act of gifting the keris might potentially cause controversy, Khairy said, in fact the keris is a symbol of Malay culture; in offering the keris as a gift to Namewee, it is to signify greater friendship and interaction.
"It is true that the keris has been politicised in the past, and thus became an object of controversy. But what we are trying to show is that if the keris is not politicised thus, it can actually become the bridge between us, something we can share."
He also emphasised that, although Namewee was once heavily censured by UMNO due to Negarakuku, but since Namewee has publicly apologised, that should be the end of the matter.
"I don't believe in punishing a person forever. Since he has already apologised, why should we still continue to harp on it? Should we continue to condemn him? Do we want him to feel that there is no one big-hearted enough to pardon him? If we keep harping on this, how long will it take before we can see the entire rakyat united?"
He said, the Negarakuku incident was something that happened a few years ago; after all, this was something Namewee did when he was younger, maybe he thinks differently now. He also said that, while interacting with Namewee during the shoot, he didn't feel that the young man was particularly radical, just someone who has his own set of thoughts, and he hopes that their performance can bring a message of unity to the people.
Khairy said, Malaysian politics is too stilted, so he hoped the usage of parody in 'Meter' can bring across the themes in a humorous manner.
"Sometimes we need parody in politics; as long as we can get the message across, what's wrong with that? In truth, many countries, and not just Western countries, have a tradition of self-parody. Parody is an art form, but not necessarily a political one."
He said, the message he wanted to bring across in the short, is that everyone have their own thoughts and opinions, that everyone should respect that and not use aggressive, radical or deceptive attitudes to deal with it.
"I believe the Malaysian public will be able to see it for what it is - a comedy. For me personally, this can be part of the education process of society, to know that sometimes we don't have to take a narrow-minded view over certain things."
He said, initially he decided to take part in 15Malaysia because he approves of Pete Teo's anti-racism themes in the MAFU (Malaysian Artistes For Unity) movement, and he hopes to use this as a platform to impart this message of unity, in particular to youths.
He has already seen most of the shorts that have been released so far. He recognises that each short imparts a different message, but he particularly likes 'Potong Saga' and 'House'.
"'Potong Saga' humorously shows the misunderstandings that non-Malays have about Islamic banking, thus representing that sometimes we don't really understand each other's cultures; on the other hand, 'House' has a humanitarian message to impart, that we should take care of those among the rakyat who have been sidelined. Of course, cinema is an art form, and it shouldn't be seen as something that insults or separates a particular group of people, but art can serve to comment on things that happen within society, and invite the audience to reflect on them."
When asked whether participating in this project might cause the disapproval of the conservatives, Khairy said that this project is done for the youths, who possess more open-minded and liberal mindsets, and are more able to accept differing viewpoints, so the discerning public who understands contemporary art will surely understand where we're coming from; as for the more conservative sectors of the public, they would have found fault with anything.
"I did not think that my participation in this project will bring any adverse political consequences; I did it because I believe in it."
About acting, Khairy joked that if he does retire from politics, he wouldn't mind turning pro as an actor.
Those who've seen the short may be pleasantly surprised at Khairy's performance of a ranting taxi driver; even Tian Chua, PKR's Information Chief, has praised him as one of the better actors.
But, Khairy has said, that he is just a tool of the director - the story and dialogue are the result of a collaboration between the director, producer and the actors.
He hopes that the audience will understand the message of the short; as for his performance, well, it is up to the audience to appraise.
