Controversial academician Ridhuan Tee's shuttlecock analogy with a racial twist appears to have ruffled the feathers of a producer.

The two exchanged smashes on Twitter.

Among others, Sha'arin Razali Wong told Ridhuan, a Chinese Muslim convert, that his father had rooted for Misbun Sidek when the Malaysian shuttler played against China's Yang Yang in the 1998 Thomas Cup final.

"My dad is Chinese, Malaysian and Muslim," tweeted the former drummer of rock band Blackrose and husband of local celebrity Yasmin Hani.

The exchange started when Ridhuan responded today to a tweet from Sha'arin three weeks ago, which read: "Just wanted to say that if you have nothing intelligent to say, I suggest you just shut up."

Ridhuan Tee: Who are you want to say like this.

Ridhuan Tee: Sha'arin you shut up.

Sha'arin Razali Wong: (Based on Ridhuan's response 'Who are you want to say like this') Kalau tak tau tweet dalam BI, tweet je dlm BM, tak apa bro . (If you don’t know how to tweet in English, then tweet in BM).

Ridhuan Tee: Why should I tweet with you.

Ridhuan Tee: Come here, I teach you what is politics.

Sha'arin Razali Wong: (Responding to 'Come here, I teach you what is politics') For someone who claims to be an Islamic teacher, is this all you can say?

Ridhuan Tee: Watch your words first. The way you tweet to me, Islamic?

In his column published in Sinar Harian yesterday, Ridhuan said using a singles bout between Lee Chong Wei and China's Lin Dan was a poor example to show how much Chinese Malaysians love this country.

"Both (players) are Chinese. Of course, we will support the Chinese Malaysian over the Chinese from China," he added.

The real test, according to Ridhuan, would be a match between Lee and Misbun Sidek or Lin Dan versus Misbun, or Lin Dan versus Indonesia's Taufik Hidayat.

"Who would they (Chinese Malaysians) support?" asked the lecturer, who teaches ethnic relations at the Malaysian Defence University.