UUM lecturer to Ramasamy: Why sue me and not others?
Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) lecturer Kamarul Zaman Yusoff today questioned Penang DAP leader P Ramasamy for targeting him in a legal action for purported defamation.
According to the academician, the suit contained statements made by others, which he shared on social media.
- UPDATED to include Ramasamy's response
Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) lecturer Kamarul Zaman Yusoff today questioned Penang DAP leader P Ramasamy for targeting him in a legal action for purported defamation.
According to the academician, the suit contained statements made by others, which he shared on social media.
"It is odd, to think why I had become the main target for Ramasamy's legal suit, and legal actions by other leaders before this, when what I did was merely share statements made by others," Kamarul (above) said in a statement.
He was responding to the Penang deputy chief minister II who yesterday stated his intention to sue Kamarul.
The legal action followed a police report by Ramasamy's assistant against Kamarul in August 2019 for purported defamation and causing racial and religious tension.
Ramasamy is suing Kamarul over, among others, the latter's purported statement on Facebook where the DAP leader had been alleged as a foreign agent sympathetic to a terrorist cause.
However, Kamarul said it was not him who called Ramasamy "a foreign agent" but PAS information chief Kamaruzaman Mohamad.
"The one who called Ramasamy (below) as someone who 'is sympathetic to a terrorist group' was also not me, but Selangor PAS information chief Roslan Shahir Mohd Shahir.
"I was only sharing the statements that these two had made," he added.
Kamarul said the politician had never stated any intention of suing him before this but reportedly wanted to do so against Kamaruzaman and PAS leader Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali for urging authorities to arrest him.
"Why was I made the target instead, Ramasamy?" he asked.
Ramasamy: 'Don't be a cry baby'
Yesterday, Ramasamy told the media of his intention to sue Kamarul after the latter started civil proceedings against five other DAP leaders for defamation.
Kamarul named Iskandar Puteri MP Lim Kit Siang, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng, Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen and the party's former vice-chairperson Ariffin Omar in his action.
Based on his letter of demands, Kamarul is seeking RM5 million in damages from the five.
Meanwhile, Ramasamy today countered that Kamarul had not merely shared statements made by others on social media but also allegedly offered his own opinions "without basis".
The Perai assemblyperson said ultimately, it was his decision whom to sue.
"In fact, without naming names, I have through my lawyers sent out a number of defamation notices, it was only a matter of time (until) the matters come up for court trials.
"I hope this general information makes Kamarul feel slightly better... Kamarul should not be a cry baby asking me why he was targeted and not others,” he added.
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