The group demanded that Ramasamy be arrested for “being an active member of a terror group” in Sri Lanka and also called on everyone to stop criticising Naik.
They said Naik, who fled India after police decided to question him over money laundering and hate speech-related allegations, should be allowed to remain in Malaysia.
The previous Barisan Nasional government had given him permanent resident status.
Naik claims the allegations are politically motivated and has refused to return to India to clear his name.
The protesters spewed vitriol against Ramasamy, calling him all sorts of names. They screamed “Tangkap Ramasamy, masuk Sosma” (Catch Ramasamy under Sosma), referring to the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 that allows detention without trial for security-related cases.
The group, led by Pertubuhan Kebajikan Al-Qayyim Malaysia member Salman Ali, claimed there was evidence to show Ramasamy’s involvement with the Sri Lankan Tamil separatist group, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which has since been wiped out by the Sri Lankan government.
Salman said police had acted against Malaysians who “merely” had in their possession Islamic State (IS) materials or had married men linked to IS. As such, Ramasamy should not be spared arrest, he added.
“We are not political. We do not hate any religion or provoke anyone.
“But we are against Ramasamy for being part of a terror group, the LTTE,” he told the protesters waving the “Black Flags of Khurasan” at the Shaik Eusoff Mosque on Jalan Dato Keramat.
Among the 300 were members of the Malay-right wing group Perkasa.
Protesters claim Ramasamy is a hypocrite
Salman said Ramasamy was a hypocrite in calling for Naik’s extradition to India to face money laundering and terrorism charges when Ramasamy himself was against extradition.
Salman said when Malaysian police previously arrested about 10 Sri Lankan “terror suspects” linked to LTTE, one of whom was alleged to be a bomb expert, Ramasamy had objected to it.
“It was Ramasamy who objected vehemently. He is anti-extradition,” he said.
Salman also panned Ramasamy for being a “spokesperson of India” in supporting the republic’s demands for the return of Naik “when he should be putting national interests first”.
“When ministers themselves are saying they are waiting for an official notification from India (on Naik’s extradition), Ramasamy is saying there is a notice issued.
“If Ramasamy is pro-India, he might as well be India’s ambassador.”
Meanwhile, Islamic Propagation Society International (IPSI) president Kamarudin Abdullah called on Muslims to come out in droves to defend Naik and the Malaysian government’s stance not to extradite him.
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had said that Naik could stay here if he behaved himself. “As long as he is not creating any problem, we won’t deport him because he has PR status,” Mahathir added.
Kamarudin said: “There are some people who are unhappy that Naik has converted a lot of people to Islam.
“What Muslims should be doing now is to defend him. I call for the Malaysian Cabinet to back the prime minister and keep Naik here.
“We will send a memorandum to the Yang di-Pertua Negeri (governor) and the chief minister to form a committee to protect and preserve the rights of Muslims. Muslims cannot be challenged.”
He later singled out media outlets such as Malaysiakini and FMT, alleging that they were “spinning” stories on Naik. He said this should stop.
He called on the government to censor the press.
Police had recently received 53 police reports against Ramasamy over his alleged involvement with Tamil Nadu politician and vocal LTTE supporter V Gopalasamy, popularly known as Vaiko.
The LTTE was founded in ethnic-Tamil majority northeastern Sri Lanka in 1976. The group wanted a separate Tamil state within Sri Lanka and was once declared a terrorist organisation by the United Nations.
The LTTE was defeated by the Sri Lankan government in May 2009 and is currently inactive.