The two DAP leaders questioned by officers from Bukit Aman in Penang over a police report filed by Dr Zakir Naik against them said today that they are standing by their statements.
Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy, who was questioned in his Komtar office for about four hours, told police that the preacher is being protected by local authorities despite being wanted in India for money laundering and terrorism-related charges.
Zakir has denied any wrongdoing and refuses to return to his home country over concerns that he would not receive a fair trial.
"The police wanted to know why I made the remarks against Zakir, so I told them," Ramasamy said when contacted.
"I stand by my remarks that he should be deported to India to face the charges against him.
"I also told the police that Zakir (photo) was not sincere when he purportedly said sorry for questioning the loyalties of Indian Malaysians, and labelled the Chinese as 'guests' during his speech."
Bagan Dalam assemblyperson Satees Muniandy was questioned by police officers for three hours on his article published in Malaysiakini.
"I told them the same article was published in The Malaysian Insight. The police also wanted to know my views about Zakir.
"I told them that this permanent resident has created discord in our country with his various remarks touching on issues of race and religion.
"I also insisted that Zakir should be sent to India if we are practising the rule of law that we preach so much," Satees added, referring to the mutual legal assistance treaty Malaysia signed with India in 2010.
According to Satees, he also told the police that even if Putrajaya has political considerations to take into account, Zakir can still be sent to the 13 countries he claimed are ready to offer him citizenship.
Ramasamy and Satees were among the five individuals – along with Human Resources Minister M Kulasegaran, Klang MP Charles Santiago and former ambassador Dennis J Ignatius – named in the police report Zakir filed for alleged defamation.
All five took aim at the preacher after he kicked up a storm last month in Kota Bahru, during which he suggested that Indian Malaysians were more loyal to the prime minister of India than to their own, and that Chinese Malaysians were "old guests".
Zakir has since apologised, but claimed that his remarks were taken out of context. - Mkini
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