TWO separate demonstrations are being planned in Penang tomorrow after Friday prayers over the Tamil Tigers controversy surrounding Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy.

One of the protests is by Muslims against him outside a mosque in George Town after prayers tomorrow afternoon, while the other is by those voicing support for the embattled DAP leader at Komtar.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said people are free to take part in demonstrations, as there is freedom of expression.

“Everyone is free to speak his or her view, but I hope all the participants (at the two demonstrations) will respect the law.

“Respect the right of the other side to air their views too, even if their opinions clash. The right to speak cannot be threatened by anyone,” he said in a press conference when asked to comment.

Chow said he had not spoken with the police on the planned protests.

“I didn’t discuss it with the police. I believe the police is alert of such things,” he said.

Ramasamy was recently accused of having ties with the Sri Lankan militant group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE).

The allegation, along with a picture showing him “worshipping” a Kalashnikov rifle that symbolised the armed group, has been making rounds on social media.

The attack against the three-term deputy chief minister followed statements he had earlier made about the government’s decision not to extradite controversial Indian-born Muslim preacher Zakir Naik to India, where the latter was wanted for terror related cases.

The attacks against Ramasamy, who supported calls to deport Zakir back to India, were also fueled by the popular Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainal Abidin, who criticised the DAP leader on Facebook using the LTTE link.

Earlier this week, Chow also said Ramasamy had been asked to explain the matter to DAP.

It was also reported that the duo have agreed to a closed door meeting by the end of the month at Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mujahid Yusof Rawa’s Putrajaya office to smooth things over.

Last week, Ramasamy explained that his connection to LTTE was due to his peacemaking consultancy work in the Sri Lankan civil conflict in 2003.

Still a Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia professor at the time, he was appoint a consultant due to his expertise in international conflict management to bring the armed conflict to the negotiation table. – July 26, 2018.