Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy has rejected calls by Perlis mufti Asri Zainul Abidin for him to debate Muslim preacher Zakir Naik.
Ramasamy said Asri's proposal was merely an attempt to sidestep the issue of calls by the Indian government for Zakir to be deported to face criminal charges in India.
Ramasamy reminded Asri that he was earlier prepared to debate with Naik, "but it did not happen".
He was responding to Asri's Facebook post yesterday, where the latter proposed that the duo debate over "who is the real terrorist?".
To this, Ramasamy replied "I'm a Malaysian citizen, I am not afraid to debate.
"But I want Zakir Naik to go back to India voluntarily, face the charges and clear his name first," Ramasamy said when met in Seberang Jaya last night after the wedding dinner of his son.
"The Indian courts are very open, (so Zakir,) clear your name, come back and I will be prepared to debate with you," the DAP leader added.
Denies terrorist links
Asri's challenge was in reference to Ramasamy's support of a committee under the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Sri Lanka, but which Asri has labelled a terrorist organisation.
Ramasamy (picture, above) had reportedly denied any links to Sri Lankan Tamil separatists, stating that the LTTE Constitutional Affairs Committee was not part of the rebel group, but was instead formed by the Sri Lankan government after a peace agreement was reached between Colombo and the Tamil Tigers.
He also had to deny further accusations that he worshipped violence after a 2015 picture of him and Bagan Dalam assemblyperson Satees Muniandy "paying homage" to a framed photo of the AK-47 was featured in Asri's Facebook page.
The two DAP leaders had explained that the images were from a memorial service for victims of genocide organised by local NGOs in Butterworth, Penang.
In his social media post (picture, below), Asri said that should Ramasamy fail to agree to the debate, it clearly meant that Ramasamy's insistence Naik be deported was more about the DAP leader's attitude and enmity towards Islam.
"I propose the one who clearly loses in the debate may be sent back to India... One of them can go back there", the mufti had posted.
When asked if Ramasamy's rejection of Asri's call to debate Naik was a sign of fear on his part, the former short back: "They (critics) can say what they want".
Even other Islamic scholars distance themselves
The Prai assemblyperson said he was not prepared to debate Naik, a Malaysian permanent resident, now as the focus of the issue was India's request to extradite him for alleged "serious crimes" in his homeland.
"Let's address these issues first, do not side step the real issues, the way Asri is trying to do," Ramasamy added.
Ramasamy said he does not know why Asri is defending Naik but believed the Perlis mufti deemed the preacher to be an Islamic scholar.
"But many scholars have distanced themselves from Naik," claimed Ramasamy.
"I do not have anything personal against Naik, but there are serious claims against him and India has filed charges against him.
"There are no charges against me for being involved in any terrorist movement, but I am involved in many peace talks, so how come I am accused of supporting the gun movement?" Ramasamy asked.
The former university don denied accusing Naik of being guilty of any crime but said rule of law must be enforced.
He stated: "India is not going to put him in the dungeon, compared to many countries, India is far more democratic. So why did he run away? Why didn't he go to Saudi Arabia? Is it because the laws there are stricter?
"The whole idea (of Asri asking for a debate) is to side-step the real issue that Naik is facing criminal charges in India."
He called for the authorities to honour the extradition treaty signed between Malaysia and India in 2010.
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has repeatedly refused to bow to India's pressure to deport Naik, saying the controversial preacher, who is even banned from the United Kingdom, was a permanent resident here and has yet to commit any crime in Malaysia.
Naik, meanwhile, has denied the criminal claims against him, which involves money laundering and inciting religious violence.
He claimed the charges were politically motivated, and he would not get a fair trial if he is returned to India. - Mkini
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