KUALA LUMPUR: Mujahid Yusof Rawa, the minister in charge of Islamic affairs, said he would meet both Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy and Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainal Abidin, as the two remain locked in a public spat over allegations of terrorism.
Mujahid said both men have agreed to a closed-door meeting, to be held at his office in Putrajaya, at the end of the month.
“I hope during the meeting, all three of us would be able to cool the situation and resolve it accordingly,” he said.
When contacted, Ramasamy said he welcomed the initiative.
“I hope it will help put things in perspective,” he told FMT.
Asri has criticised Ramasamy over the latter’s persistent calls to the government to deport Indian Muslim preacher Dr Zakir Naik, who is facing allegations linked to terrorism.
But the mufti has accused Ramasamy of double standards, after pictures surfaced online showing the DAP leader in a meeting with Sri Lankan militant group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Last Friday, a group of Muslims led by an individual close to Asri held a protest in Penang, urging police to investigate Ramasamy.
Over 53 police reports were lodged by various groups against Ramasamy.