Sinar Harian reported Harussani as saying that Ramasamy’s remark showed the lawmaker also did not respect the Federal Constitution, which stipulates Islam as the official religion.

“To me, what Ramasamy did was rude. As a politician and a leader, Ramasamy should understand the Constitution. If he doesn’t, he should be banished from the country,” Harussani was quoted saying despite an apology by Ramasamy already having been issued to Zakir over the insult.

Harussani said Ramasamy’s remark had not only insulted Zakir, but Islam on the whole. He also felt the DAP lawmaker’s apology sounded “insincere.”

“Even in India, Zakir is not prohibited from giving talks. Then why are there people like Ramasamy who want to put a stop to Zakir here?”

Meanwhile, the organiser of Zakir’s forum has asked for critics to stop attacking the preacher.

Their spokesman, Firdaus Wong Fai Hung said critics should show some respect for Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi after he announced that Zakir was free to conduct his preaching here.

“The topic of Dr Zakir’s talk in both KL and Malacca is about Islam.

“Do we, as Muslims, have no right to choose the topic of Dr Zakir’s speech, and must instead obtain their (critics’) consent?” he asked.

Wong said Zakir was merely trying to bridge the gap between the religions of the world, by finding similarities between them.

He also invited critics to attend Zakir’s talk and personally ask the preacher questions, should they have any reservations with what he was saying.