Hindu groups file lawsuit over Muslim's preacher's alleged derogatory statements

 

Two Hindu groups have gone to court to compel the police to detain and investigate controversial Muslim preacher Muhammad Zamri Vinoth Kalimuthu.

Pertubuhan Hindhudharma Malaysia and the Majlis Belia Hindu Malaysia filed a writ of summons towards this at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on April 28.

In April 2019, Zamri (above), who is supposedly a student of fugitive Muslim preacher Zakir Naik, was arrested after purportedly uploading onto social media a sermon that was deemed to have insulted Hindus.

However, in July that same year, the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) reportedly said it would not be pressing charges against Zamri over the incident.

Then on Aug 6 last year, through a parliamentary written reply, the Home Ministry said the investigation papers on Zamri were still with the AGC.

It said there were three investigation papers and a probe was carried out under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act, Sections 298A and 504 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act.

It is not clear if the investigation papers mentioned by the Home Ministry were separate ones that were still being considered.

According to a copy of the writ filed by the two Hindu groups and sighted by Malaysiakini today, they listed Zamri, the Royal Malaysian Police, the Home Ministry and the government of Malaysia as the first, second, third and fourth defendants respectively.

They are seeking a declaration, among others, that the first defendant is a threat to the security and peace of the multi-ethnic and multi-faith country of Malaysia.

The two plaintiffs also seek a court order to compel the police to immediately arrest Zamri and investigate him for his allegedly inflammatory speeches and writings.

The duo also wants a court order to compel the police and the Home Minister to take every needed step to prevent Zamri from making any disparaging statement against the Hindu faith.

They also want an injunction to restrain Zamri from further releasing any disparaging statement against the Hindu religion.

The plaintiffs are further seeking RM1 million in damages which would be utilised for social activities benefitting the Hindu community in Malaysia as well as for Zamri to issue an apology via Facebook and Twitter.

Over 800 reports

According to a copy of their statement of claim, the two groups alleged that the police had been negligent and had failed to detain and fully investigate Zamri despite them having received nearly 800 reports over the preacher’s alleged offences.

The two plaintiffs claimed that the Home Ministry and the government had been negligent and failed to direct the police to investigate Zamri.

The two groups cited nine alleged inflammatory statements purportedly issued by the preacher during religious sermons in Perlis as well as on his Facebook page.

According to the court documents, law firm Messrs SK Sundram & Partners represent the two groups while a senior federal counsel will represent the police, the ministry and the government.

Malaysiakini is attempting to reach out to the law firm acting for the two groups as well as Zamri to get their responses on the matter.

According to the online cause list, the suit is fixed for case management before the Kuala Lumpur High Court Registry on July 15. - Mkini