KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 16): Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik has contended that the Malaysian courts have no jurisdiction to hear and decide on former Penang deputy chief minister P Ramasamy’s defamation suit against him, which revolves around Zakir’s speech in Nigeria.

In his statement of defence filed on Tuesday, Zakir said the former DAP politician’s legal action was irregular under the law, and the proper forum to adjudicate the matter was the Nigerian courts.

“[Zakir] once again insists that the High Court of Malaya or any court in this country has no jurisdiction and is not a suitable forum to hear and decide [Ramasamy’s] claim here.

“[I] insist that the court in Nigeria is the court of jurisdiction and the appropriate forum for [Ramasamy’s] claim, [if] the allegedly defamatory statements were made [...],” the Indian national, who is a Malaysian permanent resident, said in his statement.

Ramasamy filed a fresh defamation suit against Zakir late last month, over the preacher’s alleged comments that the politician is “the biggest enemy of Islam”.

Zakir was said to have made the alleged comments during his speech titled “Al Qur’an: The Global Necessity” in Nigeria last November.

Ramasamy’s suit comes on the heels of the High Court’s decision in early November that ordered him to pay RM1.52 million in damages and cost for defaming Zakir.

While Ramasamy is appealing against the decision, the amount, which he raised through crowdfunding within a week, has been paid.

In his statement of defence, Zakir claimed that his statement was a “cursory” one, which taken with context, did not defame Ramasamy. The 58 year-old preacher also pleaded the defence of justification and fair comment.

The legal battle between the duo is set to be prolonged further, as Zakir also filed three counterclaims against Ramasamy, along with his statement of defence. The fresh counter claims similarly involved alleged defamatory statements.

According to court documents sighted by The Edge, Zakir is now suing Ramasamy over Ramasamy’s comments in a Malaysiakini article and two Facebook postings published in August 2019.

Ramasamy’s alleged comments, Zakir claimed, had alluded to Zakir making statements to stir racial sentiments among Malaysians.

Among others, the preacher is seeking a permanent court order barring Ramasamy, 74, from making any defamatory statements about Zakir and to issue an apology to be carried on all major media outlets.

Zakir is also seeking general, aggravated and exemplary damages. In this case, Ramasamy is represented by Messrs SS Thind, while Zakir is represented by Messrs Akberdin & Co.