GEORGE TOWN, April 11 – The Penang branch of the Federation of Peninsular Malay Students (GPMS) today condemned a remark made by Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Prof Dr P. Ramasamy against international preacher Dr Zakir Naik. Its Religious Bureau chairman, Azdy Mohd Arshad, said Ramasamy, as a deputy chief minister and an academic, should not have referred to Zakir of India as “syaitan and penipu” (Satan and a cheat) in his Facebook account.
Penang GPMS is most disappointed that Ramasamy had incited hatred in Hindus towards Zakir, he said in a statement here. Azdy said it was wrong in law to restrict or prevent religions from implementing their teachings. Ramasamy should be more rational and responsible and find out more about Zakir’s background before making any statements, he said. He invited Ramasamy to attend the Zakir public lecture and dialogue at the Kompleks Masyarakat Pulau Pinang on April 15 to have a better perspective of Zakir and Islam.
