The Malaysian Insight

POLICE from Bukit Aman today questioned Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy, who allegedly made defamatory remarks about preacher Zakir Naik, for four hours.

Bagan Dalam assemblyman Satees Muniandy, too, was quizzed over the same matter.

Ramasamy told reporters that police started taking his statement about 9.20am.

“They asked me numerous questions,” he said about 1.20pm, when the session ended.

He said he was grilled in relation to two reports lodged against him based on his comments published in Free Malaysia Today and India Today.

Both reports carried his criticism of the controversial Mumbai-born Zakir.

Satees’ session with police, meanwhile, ended about 11.20am.

He was questioned over his remarks published by Malaysiakini on August 12.

“I am surprised that Zakir focused only on what Malaysiakini reported, when what I said was also reported by The Malaysian Insight.

“I told police that I stand by my statement.”

It is believed that Ramasamy and Satees were questioned under the Penal Code for defamation and making insulting remarks.

Last week, Criminal Investigation Department director Huzir Mohamed said police would call up several individuals, including a minister, for allegedly defaming Zakir.

The preacher lodged police reports against Ramasamy and Satees, as well as Human Resources Minister M. Kula Segaran, Klang MP Charles Santiago and former ambassador Dennis J. Ignatius, saying they had defamed him by taking his speeches out of context.

Zakir’s comments on Malaysia’s Hindus and Chinese at a ceramah in Kota Baru, Kelantan, early last month sparked an uproar in the country.

He reportedly said Hindus here were more loyal to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi than to their own Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and that if he was required to return to his home country, the Chinese community, whom he called “old guests”, should also “go back” to where they had come from.

The preacher, who holds permanent resident status in Malaysia, has denied insulting anyone.

He is under police investigation for insulting with intent to provoke a breach of the peace. – September 11, 2019.