The Malaysian Insight

PUTRAJAYA will remain careful with any request to extradite controversial preacher Zakir Naik despite being continually criticised for practising double standards.

Defending the administration’s handling of Zakir’s case, Foreign Affairs Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said Putrajaya is also be careful with other extradition requests.

Each request is handled on a case-by-case basis and assessed based on the government’s position of being pro-democracy, pro-human rights and pro-rule of law, said Saifuddin.

“The position remains the same,” Saifuddin said, reiterating Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s previous statement that Putrajaya wanted assurances that Zakir would be given a fair trial in India.

“If it is believed that he may not be given a fair trial, should we send him back? That is what it is,” Saifuddin told The Malaysian Insight in a special interview called Menteri in my MyVi.  

Critics, however, said Malaysia practised double standards as in May, it deported a Thai political dissident wanted on charges of insulting the Thai royalty.  

To this point, Saifuddin said: “I guess now the government has come out with a decision that we will be more careful in sending people back.”  

The increased scrutiny will apply on all future extradition requests, he said.

India in November 2016 banned Zakir and his Islamic Research Foundation and has on three separate occasions attempted to place him on Interpol’s red notice list.

A red notice does not amount to an international arrest warrant but serves as a wanted notice.

Zakir, who has permanent residence in Malaysia, is accused of supporting terrorism and money-laundering.

On July 28, Interpol declined for the third time to issue a red notice against Zakir.

Malaysian faith groups have pressured the government to send Zakir back but the preacher also has thousands of supporters who want Putrajaya to protect him.

Going forward, Saifuddin said all extradition requests will be looked at on a case-by-case basis and that the charges validated.

“We will be more careful. We will look at their cases on a case-by-case basis. For example, there can be some reports against someone by certain countries or international organisations. On our part, we will validate that information.”

He described an example of how Pakatan Harapan will balance extradition requests with the context in which those demands are being made.  

“Say a country for the first time has a properly democratically elected government but due to some deep-state incidence, that government is dethroned,” said Saifuddin.  

“And some persons seek refuge in our country and then you have an extradition request by the new government. We will have to think twice and validate that information.

“Because we’re supposed to be a pro-democracy, pro-human rights administration that believes in freedom and the rule of law. So yes, now the government is saying they will be more careful and validate all the information.” – July 30, 2019.