Malaysian state Penang’s deputy chief minister P Ramasamy

MUMBAI: Controversy has followed Islamic preacher Zakir Naik to Malaysia, where he has enjoyed permanent residency (PR) since India put him on the wanted list three years ago for hate speech and incitement to terror. The man responsible for emphasising the dangers of Naik's "divisive and sectarian" worldview to Malaysia 's "fragile society" is P Ramasamy , the deputy chief minister of the country's Penang state. Ramasamy (70), who has been sued by Naik for defamation, is in Mumbai on a business visit and spoke to TOI about Malaysia's fight with extremism.

Naik got into the crosshairs of Ramasamy and many others when he made a controversial remark against Hindus and Chinese living in Malaysia a couple of months ago. "He said Hindus in Malaysia are more loyal to the PM of India (Narendra Modi) than the PM of Malaysia (Mahathir Mohamad). This created a huge resentment among Hindus, who have been living peacefully with Muslims, the majority in Malaysia, for centuries," said Ramasamy, who is of Tamil descent. "In newspaper articles and interviews I called for the expulsion of this polarising preacher, who is a refugee and is yet creating trouble in society."

Naik filed a defamation suit against him and three other ministers. "The police recorded my statements and my lawyer will deal with the defamation suit. My only concern is that this man is dangerous for the fragile peace in Malaysia," said Ramasamy over a lunch hosted by Harmony Foundation head Abraham Mathai, who too has written to the Malaysian PM, saying, "...Naik's stay in Malaysia is dangerous because he is a malignant cell in a healthy body whose tentacles will spread like cancer."

Ramasamy, who retired as professor of political science from Malaysia's National University, slammed Naik for radicalising a section of Muslims in Malaysia with the "spread of his extremist, exclusivist version of Islam". When Ramasamy and his ilk ask Naik to "go back to India and fight his battles if he thinks Muslims are not treated well there, he turns around and says: 'Chinese should go first. I will follow once Chinese leave Malaysia because they came much before me'". "He has been banned from giving speeches in my state (Penang). He is increasingly becoming a liability for Malaysia and may be sent back if he doesn't mend his ways," said Ramasamy.

