The Malaysian Insight

DR Zakir Naik was brought up in Parliament today, with a DAP lawmaker asking if Putrajaya will extradite the controversial preacher back to India.

Zakir is wanted by India’s National Investigation Agency for “promoting enmity and hatred between different religious groups in India through public speeches and lectures”, and for allegedly inciting youngsters to carry out terror activities.

Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran said the protection given to Zakir, who has been a permanent resident in Malaysia for more than five years, was unacceptable.

“Will Putrajaya cooperate with the Indian government and send him back to India? What will happen if Malaysia needs to have someone extradited from India?

“What type of country are we if we don’t observe international governance? We must be consistent. We cannot be inconsistent just because Umno and other parties need Zakir’s support,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat.

On November 3, the Times of India reported that New Delhi would make a formal request to extradite Zakir “very soon”.

Putrajaya has denied giving the preacher “special treatment” as alleged by certain parties, with the Home Ministry saying he had not broken laws in Malaysia.

“I don’t understand why he has been granted permanent resident status in Malaysia,” said Kulasegaran.

“I’ve been told that an application to make him a citizen had been made. Why is he being given protection?

“It’s outrageous. This is unacceptable. We are the laughing stock of the world.”

The investigation into Zakir in his home country led him to flee India. He is also said to be banned in the UK. – November 7, 2017.