Criticising Zakir not tantamount to attacking Islam: Ramasamy

 

P Ramasamy has contended that criticising Islamic preacher Zakir Naik cannot be equated to an attack on Islam and the Malays.

The former Penang deputy chief minister stated this in his court reply to Zakir’s statement of defence against his defamation suit over the allegation that Ramasamy is the “biggest enemy of Islam”.

In December last year before the Kuala Lumpur High Court, Ramasamy (above, right) filed a civil action over Zakir’s speech in Sokoto, Nigeria on Nov 2 of the same year.

“Criticism of the defendant (Zakir) cannot be equated as criticism of Islam and/or the Malays,” the former DAP member stated in the reply sighted by Malaysiakini.

In Zakir’s statement of defence, the defendant contended among others that he is a renowned and capable Islamic preacher who has become the target of enemies that hate Islam.

A ‘tit-for-tat’ move

In November last year, the Kuala Lumpur High Court ordered Ramasamy to pay RM1.52 million in damages and costs to Zakir for defamation.

Ramasamy launched the current suit against the preacher the following month.

Meanwhile, in response to Zakir’s counterclaim against him for alleged defamation, Ramasamy sought for the civil court to dismiss it as it was allegedly a “tit-for-tat” move filed suddenly after the plaintiff filed his defamation suit against the preacher.

Zakir’s counterclaim is over the allegation that Ramasamy had defamed him with three statements in 2019.

Ramasamy also alleged that the counterclaim was an abuse of the court process as the issues raised therein had already purportedly been dealt with by the court in Zakir’s suit against the former DAP leader involving the RM1.52 million damages and costs.

Ramasamy’s counsel Shamsher Singh Thind confirmed with Malaysiakini that the reply was filed on Monday.

Zakir is represented by law firm Akberdin & Co. - Mkini