HOW exactly Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy became painted as a member of Sri Lankan terror group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) is fairly ironic.

According to the DAP leader, the link to the militant group stems from his lecturing days 15 years ago at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in Bangi, where he spent 26 years as an academic.

Because Ramasamy’s field of expertise included economic politics and international conflict management, he was brought in to help resolve a conflict between the Sri Lankan government and Tamil insurgents in 2003.

“A constitutional affairs committee was formed then. The members included academics, people from voluntary groups and LTTE members.

“The committee was tasked with finding a way to move the conflict to the negotiation table, but the Sri Lankan president rejected the proposals. They went to war instead,” he said at Komtar today.

Recently, this link has resurfaced, but with far more negative assertions. Social media posts surfaced accusing Ramasamy of having ties to the LTTE, along with a picture showing him “worshipping” a Kalashnikov rifle symbolising the armed group.

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

Today, a group of Muslims also planned a protest against the DAP politician after Friday prayers outside a mosque in Datuk Keramat, Penang.

Yesterday, Inspector-General of Police Fuzi Harun said Bukit Aman was investigating the case after 53 police reports were lodged over the controversies surrounding Ramasamy.

Ramasamy said the police reports were lodged, not just by those unhappy with his remarks on Zakir, but also by his own supporters and others over the LTTE allegations levelled against him.

“There are 18 reports lodged over the accusations against me. I also lodged a police report myself. On Tuesday, the police took my statement at my office. It is up to the police to investigate.

“How can a Malaysian be a LTTE terrorist? It all boils down to the Zakir Naik issue, and some are using the opportunity to attack Pakatan Harapan and DAP,” he said, adding that LTTE was no longer active since its defeat in 2009.

Ramasamy also said those focusing on his link to the LTTE had conveniently neglected to acknowledge his consultancy work for other international conflicts in countries like Indonesia, the Philippines and Colombia during his UKM years.

He said because of his experience in the Sri Lankan conflict, he was also made a consultant in the civil conflict between the Indonesian government and Gerakan Aceh Merdeka (GAM), a separatist group that had fought for Aceh’s independence between 1976 to 2005.

“Why don’t they also talk about my work in 99% Muslim Aceh? Going by their logic, I should have links with GAM, too, shouldn’t I?

“In Aceh, I was given recognition as an Indian who went to help Muslims, rather than being painted anti-Islam or anti-Muslim.

“When I was Batu Kawan MP, I also made speeches on defending the human rights of Palestinians. Why don’t they talk about that?”

Ramasamy also addressed controversy surrounding his connection to Indian politician Vaiyapuri Gopalsamy. 

The Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) secretary-general, better known as Vaiko, has also been dragged into the controversy and labelled pro-LTTE.

Ramasamy said Vaiko, who attended his son’s wedding in Penang, was an old friend.

“He is a prominent Tamil Naidu politician. He is from India and not from Sri Lanka’s LTTE.”

Ramasamy also denied that he had worshipped a rifle, saying the picture had been taken when he and two other Penang DAP grassroots leaders – David Marshel and M. Satees – had been invited to a memorial for genocide victims, where they had laid flowers to pay their respects.

“These are really extraordinary accusations against me… as the saying goes, little learning is a dangerous thing.” – July 20, 2018.