SHAH ALAM – Former Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy launches a crowdfunding campaign today to raise RM1.52 million to pay independent preacher from India Dr Zakir Naik for defaming the latter, four years ago.
Earlier, Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Hayatul Akmal Abdul Aziz ordered the former DAP leader to pay the amount in damages after allowing two lawsuits filed by Zakir.
According to a report by online news portal Free Malaysia Today, Ramasamy said his team will manage the funds transparently and post updates on his Facebook page daily.
It was reported that the full details about the crowdfunding campaign were available on his Facebook page.
"I am a former politician. Unlike other politicians, I am not rich. I have no choice but to go for crowdfunding.
"We will raise the necessary amount and the excess will be donated to those in need, such as poor students,” Ramasamy was reported saying at a press conference in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur.
Ramasamy has also expressed his intention to appeal against the decision and if the Court of Appeal was to rule in his favour, the funds that have been raised will be donated to those in need.
He said despite the setback, he will remain committed in advocating for the voiceless Malaysians regardless of their race.
In Oct and Dec 2019, Zakir filed two separate lawsuits accusing Ramasamy of making five defamatory statements against him.
In his statement of claim, he alleged that Ramasamy had defamed him on April 10, 2016, by calling him a 'satan' on Facebook.
Zakir who held a permanent resident status claimed that Ramasamy defamed him in another statement published on a news portal on Oct 1, 2017, by alleging that Malaysia was protecting what he claimed as a fugitive from India.
He also claimed that on Aug 11, 2019, Ramasamy manipulated a speech he made at a government-organised event in Kelantan, which was published by a news portal on the same day.
On Aug 20, 2019, Ramasamy was again alleged of defaming Zakir in a hate-filled statement.
In his second lawsuit, Zakir alleged that Ramasamy defamed him when commenting on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) group, which was published by a news portal on Nov 8, 2019.