Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy has rejected calls by Perlis mufti Asri Zainul Abidin for him to debate Muslim preacher Zakir Naik.

Ramasamy said Asri's proposal was merely an attempt to sidestep the issue of calls by the Indian government for Zakir to be deported to face criminal charges in India.

He reminded Asri that he was earlier prepared to debate with Zakir, "but it did not happen...