KUALA LUMPUR: Controversial preacher Zakir Naik is demanding an apology from M. Kulasegaran over the Human Resources Minister's statements on him in a press release.
In a letter of demand, which was served through Messrs Akberdin & Co here on Friday (Aug 16), Zakir said Kulasegaran had defamed him in a press release entitled "Zakir Naik's presence in Malaysia is embarrassing to all Malaysians".
The press release was issued on Aug 13 using the letterhead of the ministry.
The defamatory statements, Zakir claimed, were then published in several publications and a news portal.
Zakir claimed that the statement painted him as a dishonest person who would abuse the Islamic religion for his own selfish purpose, and who unfairly and dishonestly accused Malaysian Hindus of being disloyal to Malaysia.
He further claimed that Kulasegaran had indicated he was leveraging and taking advantage of the current polemic related to race and religion in the country for his own survival and benefits at the expense of the Malaysian tax payers, among others.
"The defamatory statements are clearly actuated by malice, hatred and spite, " it said.
Zakir also claimed that Kulasegaran had directly abused his position as the Human Resources Minister by misusing the official letterhead for his personal and political gain.
He demanded Kulasegaran to retract the allegations and to apologise, as well as to agree to a suitable compensation for the injury of his reputation within 48 hours, of the date of the letter.
