This comes after pictures of the DAP leader with LTTE leaders, as well as one showing him paying tribute to an image of a combat rifle, led to police reports against him by several groups.

Ramasamy had since explained that he was involved with a constitutional committee formed by the Sri Lankan government in the aftermath of the decades-old civil war, adding that he was also involved in the Aceh peace talks.

“We will allow Prof (Ramasamy) to explain,” said Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow today. “After all he took part in peace keeping initiatives not just in Sri Lanka, but in Aceh as well.”

In an interview with Utusan Malaysia, Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, a frequent critic of Ramasamy over the latter’s opposition to controversial Indian Muslim preacher Dr Zakir Naik, questioned DAP over the party’s silence in the wake of allegations surrounding Ramasamy.

“I am not sure if they are waiting for the outcome of police investigations. At least, I was hoping that the DAP leadership could ask the police to investigate him (on links to LTTE),” Asri was quoted as saying.

Chow who is also DAP vice-chairman admitted he had yet to raise the matter with Ramasamy, but defended him saying his involvement with LTTE was “as a peacemaker”.

“But we will let him explain.”

Ramasamy has been the target of Asri and several individuals close to him, who accused the DAP politician of double standards for opposing Malaysia’s deportation of LTTE-linked men to Sri Lanka, but are now calling for Naik’s extradition to India.

On Friday, a group of Muslims held a protest outside a mosque in George Town, Penang, in support of Naik while calling for Ramasamy to be arrested for his support for the Tamil Tigers.

Asri questions DAP leaders’ silence over ‘anti-Islam’ Ramasamy