GEORGE TOWN: Controversial Islamic preacher Dr Zakir Naik sent a legal notice to State Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy today over his alleged defamatory remarks in an interview with India Today.
Zakir claimed that in the interview which was uploaded on YouTube, Ramasamy had uttered words that painted him as an unprincipled and unethical individual who employed Islamic teachings for personal gains or purposes.
The five-page notice of demand, among others, reads : “We (lawyers) are instructed to reiterate the said defamatory statements were clearly actuated by malice, hatred, envy, spite and or motivated to shore up your (Ramasamy) sagging popularity in his political party (DAP), after being sidelined in the party election.
“Clearly, we are instructed to state that the said defamatory statements bear a strong connotation that you had deliberately abused your position as the Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang.”
The notice dated Aug 23 further stated that the lawyers were instructed by Dr Zakir that the alleged defamatory statements which were made in Ramasamy’s capacity as deputy chief minister II of Penang, “had insinuated and or motivated certain groups of people to hold a mass gathering which was scheduled on Aug 24, 2019, at 2pm at Brickfields roundabout under the pretext of a ‘peaceful gathering’ in order to gain support to cause racial discord and/or racial disharmony.”
It also demanded an apology from Ramasamy within 48 hours of receiving the letter and to cease from issuing further comments about Dr Zakir.
The notice also demanded a “reasonable sum of settlement” for the “damage, embarrassment, humiliation and dishonour caused”.
When contacted, Ramasamy said he would be lodging a police report against Dr Zakir and his lawyer.
Ramasamy said he was also going to send a formal complaint to the Bar Council and Advocates and Solicitors Disciplinary Board over the lawyer’s “unethical conduct”.
“The accusations that I am making statements to bolster my sagging political career and that I am behind the Aug 24 protest in Brickfields against Zakir is uncalled for.
“If they want to send me legal notice, by all mean do so, I will face them headon but making accusations is taking it too far,” he said.
Ramasamy also said many lawyers had offered to represent him.
Ramasamy had previously received a legal notice from Dr Zakir together with Klang member of parliament Charles Santiago, Bagan Dalam assemblyman Satees Muniandy and former diplomat Dennis Ignatius,
Dr Zakir has also filed a legal suit against Human Resources Minister M. Kulasegaran.