What gall! I’ll fight you in court, Ramasamy tells Naik
DAP’s P Ramasamy says he has received the defamation suit summons and has all the evidence to back up what he has said.
GEORGE TOWN: Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy said he will fight a defamation suit brought by controversial Indian preacher Dr Zakir Naik.
He said he has received the summons sent to his office this afternoon and will assemble a legal team, including volunteers, to fight the case.
“What gall this person, who got his permanent residency through the backdoor, has to sue a Malaysian born and bred here.
“There is no reason to defame or ridicule Naik. He has created hatred and tension among the different races and religions.
“Some people have given him the strength to take me to court. We will meet in court. I have all the evidence,” he told FMT at the Chief Minister’s Office in Komtar today.
Ramasamy said he would also contest an injunction applied by Naik to prevent him from making any statements regarding him to news outlets.
He said he would show evidence of Naik’s alleged terrorist attacks in Bangladesh and, more recently, in Sri Lanka. He also said Naik had made racist remarks at a talk in Kelantan.
“The Indian government is holding him responsible for influencing a number of youths in Kerala to join terrorist organisations.
“Except for India, which wants him to be arrested for a variety of charges, including money laundering, no other country wants him,” he said.
Naik has filed a defamation suit in the Kuala Lumpur High Court against Ramasamy over four articles published.
Naik is seeking an injunction to restrain Ramasamy from publishing and distributing the reports in any medium, as well as an apology to be published in newspapers and news portals, including FMT, within seven days.
In his statement of claim sighted by FMT, Naik also demanded compensation and exemplary damages.
Stay current - Follow FMT on WhatsApp, Google news and Telegram
He accused Ramasamy of ridiculing him and depicting him as a bad character and a threat to Malaysia’s security.