Dr S Subramaniam has been told to quit his MIC president and health minister posts for not being able to act against controversial preacher Zakir Naik’s permanent resident (PR) status in Malaysia.

Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy said Subramaniam, as a member of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s cabinet, cannot pretend not to have known about Zakir’s status.

“Surely, Subramaniam is fully aware that Zakir was awarded a PR status in 2013, as he is a member of Najib’s cabinet. But why hasn’t he said anything about it?” Ramasamy asked.

Ramasamy alleged that Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had tried to distance himself from the matter by saying he was not in charge of the Home Ministry when the permanent resident status was given to Zakir. 

The portfolio was then held by current Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

“Subramaniam (photo) is only raising the matter now. When we all raised questions about Zakir, he was just silent and this is also a form of lying,” said the state DAP vice-chairperson.

“He is not fit to lead the Indian community, he should just go back to his medical practice.”

Ramasamy, who is also Prai assemblyperson, said that Malaysian authorities had lost the plot on Zakir, noting that he previously made political remarks, telling voters to choose either PAS or Umno in the coming general election.

“Malaysians are intelligent enough to make their own decisions without the advice of this person, who is a fugitive, and is wanted for his alleged links to terrorist organisations,” Ramasamy added.

Ramasamy was responding to Subramaniam, who recently described Zakir as an “avoidable distraction” for Malaysia.

Subramaniam had also warned that Zakir could undermine the country’s unity.

Meanwhile, Penang Hindu Association president P Murugiah, who was also present at the press conference, urged the authorities to turn Zakir in to India to face the charges pending against him. 

"Many Malaysian Indians born in the 1950s were issued red identification cards.

"Our own people have no IC or citizenship but Zakir is welcomed here as a PR, even though he is banned in many countries," Murugiah said. 

Today, The Times of India reported that a special court yesterday allowed the country's National Investigation Agency's (NIA) plea to issue a non-bailable warrant of arrest against Zakir, who is being sought for alleged money laundering. 

Zakir has reportedly failed to respond to three summonses issued by the NIA, and appears to be “evading arrest”, said the newspaper.

The NIA has accused Zakir of promoting enmity between different religious groups in India and "inciting Muslim youths and terrorists, in India and abroad, to commit unlawful activities and terrorist acts."