KUALA LUMPUR: Controversial preacher Dr Zakir Naik has demanded Human Resources Minister M. Kulasegaran to correct a statement which he deemed as defamatory and apologise over it.
In a letter of demand served through Messrs Akberdin & Co today, the Mumbai-born preacher said the minister had uttered defamatory statement towards him on the latter's press release entitled "Zakir Naik's presence in Malaysia is embarassing to all Malaysians".
Zakir said the statement which was widely published by news portals had portrayed him as being a dishonest person who would abuse Islam for his own selfish purpose.
He said the Ipoh Barat Member of Parliament also alleged that he had unfairly and dishonestly accused Malaysian Hindus of being disloyal to the country.
"Kulasegaran had indicated that Zakir was leveraging and taking advantage of the current polemic related to race and religion in the country for his own survival and benefit at the expense of the Malaysian tax payers, among others.
"The defamatory statements were clearly actuated by malice, hatred and spite," said the Letter of Demand.
The Statement of Claim from legal firm of Akberdin & Co was served on Kulasegaran today at the Human Resources Ministry.
Zakir also said that the statements had tarnished his reputation by inflicting scandal, odium, and untold contempt in the eye of members of the public.
He added that Kulasegaran had directly abused his position as the minister (of Human Resources) by misusing the official letterhead for his personal and political gain.
"The minister had also unilaterally issued the statement against the notion of collective responsibility of the government of the day," he said.
Zakir gave a 48-hour ultimatum to Kulasegaran to retract his allegation and issue an unreserved apology.
"We want Kulasegaran to immediately cease and desist from making any further false statement’s regarding our client," the Letter of Demand said.
On Wednesday, Kulasegaran as well as Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo in a joint statement had demanded that Zakir not be allowed to hold any ceramah and issue statements which could undermine racial harmony and public order nationwide.