Naik said he only graduated as a medical doctor from the University of Mumbai, India.
“I’m trained as a medical doctor, but I no longer practice. I am not formally trained in comparative religion,” he said on the second day of the hearing of his defamation suit against Penang deputy chief minister II P Ramasamy.
Naik, 56, a permanent resident who stays in Putrajaya, said he spoke about and debated religions based on his engagement with other religious scholars.
“Today I have been recognised as one of the renowned Islamic preachers and speakers in comparative religion,” he said when cross-examined by Ramasamy’s lawyer Ranjit Singh.
Naik said he stood by the pleadings in his statement of claim that he had the ability to argue and amaze his audience.
Ranjit: Are you also capable of memorising verses in the Quran and other religious scriptures?
Naik: Quite a lot.
Naik said “eminent Muslim thinker, author, orator and scholar” of comparative religion Sheikh Ahmad Deedat had recognised him as “DeedatPlus” in 1994.
Naik said he recognised the power of words and looked at religious issues objectively when speaking to his audience – both Muslims and non-Muslims.
“I have never intended to mock any religion but I am helpless if the audience feels insulted and misinterprets the words I use as some of them are not well versed in their scriptures,” he said.
Ranjit: Would it be correct to say that you don’t want to talk about negative aspects of non-Muslim religions as you don’t want to create animosity?
Naik: 100% correct.
Ranjit: When you talk about comparative religion, you also don’t like to put forward contradictory views?
Naik: Yes, I want to promote peace and harmony.
Naik also said he did not believe every news report about local politicians and religious leaders heaping praise on his public talks and on him as an Islamic preacher.
He added that he had in the past verified such reports with, among others, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, former minister Mujahid Yusof Rawa, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, Terengganu menteri besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar and Penang mufti Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor.
Naik filed two separate suits – in October and December 2019 – alleging that Ramasamy had issued five defamatory statements against him.
He sued Ramasamy for allegedly issuing the statements which had been uploaded on social media sites and news portals between 2016 and 2019.
In his statement of claim, he alleged that Ramasamy had defamed him on April 10, 2016, by calling him Satan on his Facebook page.
He also claimed that he was defamed in a statement issued by Ramasamy that Malaysia was harbouring an alleged fugitive from India, which was published by Free Malaysia Today (FMT) on Oct 1, 2017.
Naik claimed that on Aug 11, 2019, Ramasamy had “manipulated” a speech he had made at an event organised by the Kelantan government, and which was also published by FMT the same day.
On Aug 20, 2019, he claimed, Ramasamy again defamed him in a statement laced with hatred and spite that was published by India Today.
Naik filed his second suit against Ramasamy in December 2019, alleging that the defendant had defamed him in making comments about the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and which were carried by The Malaysian Insight portal.
Hearing before Justice Hayatul Akmal Abdul Aziz continues.
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