GEORGE TOWN: Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy and Bagan Dalam assemblyman Satees Muniandy were grilled by the police for hours over allegedly issuing defamatory statements against controversial preacher Dr Zakir Naik.
It is learnt that Ramasamy and Satees were questioned by two policemen attached to the Criminal Investigation Department Prosecution/Law Division (D5) in Bukit Aman. The meeting took place at Komtar.
Ramasamy, who was accompanied by lawyer Datuk N. Murali, was questioned from 9.20am to 1.15pm.
Satees, who was unrepresented, was quizzed from 9.40am to 12.30pm.
Ramasamy was questioned on his opinion piece titled “Naik should not question loyalty of Hindus in Malaysia”, which was published in Free Malaysia Today, and and over his interview with India Today.
Satees was questioned over his statement published in news portal MalaysiaKini titled “Lawmaker fumes after Zakir suggests Hindus here support Modi over Dr M”.
It is believed that they were questioned under Section 500 of the Penal Code for defamation and Section 504 of the same Act for the intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of the peace.
Asked whether they expected to be called to Bukit Aman for further investigation, both responded in the negative.
Zakir had lodged a police report against five people — Ramasamy, Satees, Human Resources Minister M. Kula Segaran, former ambassador Dennis Ignatius and Klang member of parliament Charles Santiago.
Zakir had alleged that the five men made defamatory statements against him by claiming that he had instigated racial disharmony and hatred among Malaysians.
It followed the remarks that he allegedly made during a religious talk in Kelantan against the Chinese community and his alleged remarks about the supposed political allegiance of the Indian community to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.