The Malaysian Insight

PREACHER Dr Zakir Naik “thanked” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for forcing him to stay in Malaysia, a country the former said “that was better than India”.

The Indian-born televangelist said Modi had uttered his name nine times within two minutes during a speech delivered soon after he was re-elected as prime minister in April.

New Delhi has tried three times to extradite and charge Zakir with terrorism, hate-mongering and money-laundering.

All of these attempts failed to convince Interpol to issue a red notice to extradite Zakir from Malaysia to India.  

In his first public speech since the third extradition attempt, Zakir “thanked” Modi for “making him happier”.

“I thank Modi because I am coming closer to true happiness. Because of him, I am in Malaysia which is better than India,” Zakir told a packed crowd at the Kelantan Trade Centre in Kota Baru.  

“Never in my wildest dreams would I have dreamed of staying in Malaysia,” said the medically trained preacher with Malaysian permanent residency.

On July 22, Interpol rejected India’s third request for a red notice for Zakir, saying that the request didn’t comply with the global police body’s rules.

Interpol publishes red notices at the request of member countries. A red notice doesn’t amount to an international arrest warrant but serves as a wanted-person notice.

An aide to the preacher, in a statement to The Malaysian Insight, said: “Interpol has yet again refused (to issue) a red notice against Zakir, citing a lack of evidence and proof of wrongdoing”.

Zakir said soon after the third failed attempt that it proved India’s charges against him are trumped up and fictitious.

“You can’t get Interpol to play your political, communal game. It needs proof of your claims and the reason why it continues to refuse a red notice is because the Indian agencies are unable to provide proof.”

Zakir is on a three-day tour of Kota Baru where he is slated to speak with students, civil servants and residents.

He will cap off his visit with a speech at the Sultan Muhammad IV stadium, which organisers claim will attract a 10,000 crowd.

Last night, he spoke about “Quran – the path to happiness” to a crowd of mostly local university students.

The audience cheered when he described Kelantan as the “most Islamic state” in the country.  

“I’ve always wanted to visit Kelantan because I was told that it is the most Islamic state in the country. I went this afternoon to a mosque for prayers and I was surprised to find it half-full.

“There were a good number of women, men, as well as a good mix of young and old. I hope God will guide this state to be more Islamic.” – August 8, 2019.