TWO groups on opposite sides of the Tamil Tigers controversy surrounding Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy clashed in Komtar, after Friday prayers, today. 

One group is made up of Muslims protesting against Ramasamy who has been critical of Indian-Muslim preacher Zakir Naik. They arrived at 2.50pm. 

The other is defending the DAP leader and slamming the other side for twisting facts to damage Ramasamy’s reputation. They made speeches supporting Ramasamy at 1pm, but stayed to wait for the other group to arrive. 

Some entry points into Komtar where the state administration offices are located have been cordoned off since earlier this afternoon. 

The two groups which had 200 people combined gathered at Komtar’s Lebuh Tek Soon entrance and were soon engaged in a shouting match, with some bent on provoking the other side while others called for calm. 

Someone was heard shouting “Shut up, terrorist supporters” at which point police, who are on standby, ordered the groups to stop with the provocations.

Northeast district police chief assistant commissioner Anuar Omar was seen approaching the Muslim group leader, Malaysia Muslim Consumers Association representative Muhammad Yusuf Azmim, to negotiate. 

Azmi then presented a memorandum to a member of Ramasamy’s staff. The memorandum demanded that Ramasamy resign, that the state government to take action against him, and that the police thoroughly investigate him.

Another Muslim group separately turned in a memorandum with similar demands. 

The two groups stayed on for about 20 minutes more before the Muslim group started to disperse.

Some in the pro-Ramasamy group reacted their departure by cheering, provoking another exchange of jeers and insults lasting several minutes.

Tension flared again as one side shouted “Balik, balik” (go back) while the other went “Allahuakbar.”

Following their dispersal, the Northeast district police chief Anuar said neither of the groups had a permit to assemble. 

He said the police might call up the reps of sides for their statements. 

“If necessary, we will investigate. But this is a new Malaysia. The people have the right to freedom of expression but they must respect the law. 

“But so far so good. There was no untoward incident.”

Ramasamy was recently labelled a terrorist over his connection 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, made the rounds on social media following his comment on the Malaysian government’s decision not to extradite Zakir to India, where the Muslim preacher is wanted to answer terror-related charges.

Ramasamy’s link to LTTE dates back to his days as a Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia lecturer when he did international conflict management consultancy work in Sri Lanka in 2003.

NGO Tamilar Kular Malaysia president David Marshel, who was in the pro-Ramasamy group, said the three-term DAP rep was a peacemaker and not the terrorist certain quarters were making him out to be. 

He blamed the controversy on people twisting the facts to tarnish Ramasamy’s reputation and defend Zakir, who is wanted not just by India but several countries. 

Padang Serai MP Karupaiya Mutusami, who was also at the gathering, said people who have dealt with Ramasamy would know that he was a peace advocator. 

“He is a man who fights for peace and against oppression. 

“It was someone else who came to Malaysia, who made insults against other faiths. That we cannot accept when we Malaysians live in peace with each other.

“So those who are making accusations (against Ramasamy) should stop being ‘batu api’ (a person who incites),” said the PKR man from Kedah.  – July 27, 2018.