Former DAP assemblyman Satees Muniandy last night alleged that Rayer’s remarks at a Tamil heritage conference in Penang on Jan 4 had led to the Jelutong MP’s abrupt exit from the event.

He also claimed that Rayer’s remarks had caused “an outburst for him to stop speaking”, and urged him to apologise.

Rayer however denied leaving the stage abruptly.

“In fact, I finished my speech and stayed for lunch,” he told FMT.

He also said he had received a “rousing and rapturous applause” after ending his speech.

“Satees should get his facts right,” he added.

Rayer also defended his endorsement of Annamalai as the next chief minister of Tamil Nadu, citing his push for justice for a rape victim.

Rayer said Annamalai had been championing the cause of a second-year engineering student at Chennai’s Anna University, who was allegedly raped on campus on Dec 23.

He said Annamalai had staged a protest calling for action against the perpetrator, and had flogged himself as part of the protest.

“This is why I am backing Annamalai. I am doing so as a lawyer and one who champions human rights, especially the rights of women.”