Islamic preacher Zakir Naik testified that his ceramah in Kota Bharu, Kelantan three years ago sought to bring people together over the commonalities in religions.
He told the Kuala Lumpur High Court this afternoon that the defamatory statements lobbed against him were due to the media misquoting his words within the speech delivered on Aug 8, 2019.
The Indian national who is a permanent resident in Malaysia claimed that his ceramah - similar to the many he gave worldwide in the past - does not seek to offend but merely to educate people in the field of comparative religions.
The plaintiff pointed out that when he gave the ceramah in Kota Bharu, nobody in the audience comprised of Muslims and non-Muslims raised objections or was offended by his speech.
Zakir (above) claimed that it was a few days later following the media’s alleged misreporting of the ceramah that led to several purported defamatory statements made against him.
The preacher reiterated that despite certain purportedly inaccurate media reports, he denied that his speech ever made any allegation about the loyalty of the Hindu community in Malaysia.
“I wish to clarify that many times when I say something, the media misquotes me such as in Kelantan, where the media wrote that the Hindus (in Malaysia) were (allegedly) more loyal (to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi). I never said that.
“The main problem is that the media and people wrote articles in the media (regarding the Kelantan ceramah) like the defendant (Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy). They misquoted me.
“I am careful in my choice of words and I do not mock other religions as this goes against the precepts of Islam,” Zakir told trial judge Hayatul Akmal Abdul Aziz.
He was giving his oral evidence in the hearing of his two defamation suits against Ramasamy.
Several suits filed
The alleged defamatory statements by Ramasamy were in relation to the preacher’s alleged controversial remarks during a talk in Kota Bharu, Kelantan on Aug 8, 2019, while speaking about the peaceful spread of Islam in the Malay Archipelago.
Hearing before Hayatul would resume on Aug 8.
The first suit against Ramasamy was filed on Oct 16, 2019, in relation to the defendant’s four statements issued on April 10, 2016; Oct 1, 2017; Aug 11, 2019; and Aug 20, 2019.
The second suit was filed on Dec 30, 2019.
Aside from Ramasamy, Zakir also filed defamation suits against former human resources minister M Kulasegaran, Klang MP Charles Santiago, Bagan Dalam assemblyperson Satees Muniandy and former ambassador Dennis J Ignatius.
These civil actions were also in relation to statements made in regard to the preacher’s Kota Bharu ceramah.
However, on July 4, Zakir and Kulasegaran settled the defamation suit.
As of press time, the preacher is still pressing on with the civil actions against the other defendants.
Lawyer K Ragunath and Ranjit Singh acted for Ramasamy, while Zakir was represented by counsel Akberdin Abdul Kader. - Mkini
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