The argument of Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman (PAS-Sik) caused Ramkarpal Singh (PH-Bukit Gelugor) to pause and, with a bewildered look, ask why he was making irrelevant statements.

It began when Ramkarpal asked why there was a delay in catching 1MDB mastermind Low Taek Jho or Jho Low, adding: “We must know by now where he is.”

Ramkarpal went on to say Malaysia should respect the extradition treaty with India and acquiesce to its request to extradite fugitive preacher Naik.

Tarmizi then asked if Ramkarpal agreed with him that Malaysia had a clear stand that “we are not tied to any other country’s laws”.

He then went on to link the issue of Naik to the LTTE and the killing of former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi by the LTTE. He said even India had labelled the LTTE as a terrorist group.

Looking stumped, Ramkarpal said he did not understand how the LTTE and the killing of Gandhi could be linked to his call for Naik’s extradition.

Rajiv Gandhi was killed in 1991 by a member of the LTTE.

“There is no link. Zakir Naik is a serious matter.

“Do not try to confuse the Zakir Naik issue with the LTTE. There is absolutely no relevance,” Ramkarpal said.

Tarmizi replied that the principles of Malaysia should be respected and that Putrajaya should not be tied to the principles of other countries, including India.

“What principles are you talking about?” Ramkarpal asked, to which Tarmizi replied: “This means, if we extradite Naik, we should also respect India’s decision on the LTTE.”

In exasperated disbelief, Ramkarpal repeated that he could not see any link between the LTTE’s killing of Rajiv and the call for the extradition of Naik.

Earlier in his debate, Ramkarpal had warned the government to extradite Naik before bilateral ties worsened.