Controversial Muslim preacher Dr Zakir Naik has filed defamation suits against three DAP leaders, including Human Resources Minister M Kula Segaran.
The others are Klang MP Charles Santiago and Bagan Dalam assemblyman Satees Muniandy.
Last month, he slapped a similar suit against Penang Deputy Chief Minister P Ramasamy over four articles through legal firm Messrs Akberdin and Co.
He is seeking an injunction to restrain them from publishing and distributing the reports in any medium, as well as an apology to be published in newspapers and portals, including FMT, within seven days.
In his writs and statements of claim filed two days ago and sighted by FMT, Naik also demanded compensation and exemplary damages.
He accused the defendants of ridiculing him and depicting him in a bad light and as a threat to the country’s security.
He also described himself as a renowned preacher and orator on comparative religion, adding that he had received numerous awards, including the Tokoh Maal Hijrah International Personality Award in 2013.
The suit against Kula, who is also Ipoh Barat MP and DAP national vice-chairman, is in connection with an FMT report titled ‘DAP: No reason for Malaysia to protect Zakir Naik’ published on April 17, 2017.
Naik also mentioned a press release by Kula on Aug 13 titled ‘Zakir Naik’s presence is embarrassing to all Malaysians’.
The suit against Satees, who is DAP Youth international secretary, is in connection with an article titled ‘Lawmaker fumes after Zakir suggests Hindus here support Modi over Dr M’ which appeared in Malaysiakini on Aug 12.
Also mentioned is a report titled ‘DAP man blames LTTE crackdown on Zakir Naik’s presence’, featured in FMT on Nov 5.
The claim against Santiago is linked to an article titled ‘Wednesday Cabinet meeting must discuss Zakir’s meddling in local politics’ which was posted on his Facebook on Aug 13.
Also mentioned is a public speech by Santiago three days ago where the MP allegedly linked the preacher to the arrests of two DAP members, purportedly over links to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
Naik previously lodged a police report in Shah Alam against Kula, Ramasamy, Santiago, Satees and former ambassador Dennis Ignatius, claiming they had made defamatory statements against him.
Naik reportedly claimed that Malaysians of Indian origin were more loyal to the Narendra Modi government than to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, while Chinese Malaysians were “old guests” who should go back to their ancestral land.
The preacher, who holds permanent resident status in Malaysia, is also wanted by authorities in India over accusations of money laundering. – FMT