Umno minister earns rare praise from DAP over preacher

Penang Deputy CM II Ramasamy says Nazri Aziz is right in warning that Zakir Naik’s speeches will adversely affect race relations in the country.

GEORGE TOWN: Penang’s Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy has supported an Umno minister for speaking out against controversial Muslim preacher Zakir Naik.

Ramasamy said Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Aziz was “wise and practical” in giving his comments, which were being widely shared by most peace-loving Malaysians.

“I fully support Nazri for saying that it is wrong to invite Zakir to speak about Islam.

“He pointed out rightly that you don’t need somebody from abroad to come and tell the Muslims here whether they are following the right path,” he told FMT today.

Ramasamy, a staunch critic of Zakir, said the latter might be good in Islam, but it was wrong for certain quarters to ask him to talk about the religion when compared with Hinduism.

“Such an attempt will only end up with Zakir putting down Hinduism. Zakir will come and leave, but who is going to clean up the mess?

“It is ridiculous to defend freedom of speech as it might impact negatively on race relations in our country.”

Earlier this week, Zakir’s organisers were told by authorities to change the topic of a talk in Malacca, which was a comparison of Hinduism and Islam, after opposition from the public and police.

Earlier today, Nazri told FMT that Malaysia had its own stable of scholars and did not need those from overseas to spread animosity in the country.

Nazri said Zakir’s presence was unnecessary and said his attempt to deride other religions had come back to haunt him.

““It’s all about perception and perception is based on what he has done in the past. I think if you want to talk about religion, then just talk about your own.

“To have a session (where you make) comparisons (with other religions), you are bound to come to the conclusion that your religion is better.

“Besides, is it necessary? Do the Muslims here need to be told that we are on the right track? I don’t think so. And by calling this man to make a speech here will certainly attract objections from certain quarters,” Nazri was reported as saying.

Nazri also added that Zakir might further divide a multi-ethnic Malaysia, a notion supported by Ramasamy.

Zakir, a Mumbai-born Muslim preacher, has ruffled feathers after earlier angering the Hindu community by allegedly insulting their deities and the faith’s vegetarian practices.

The recipient of the Tokoh Maal Hijrah award in 2013 has also been banned from speaking in Canada and the United Kingdom for expressing support for terrorist group Al-Qaeda.