Indians call for boycott after Malaysia’s refusal to extradite Zakir

Ragananthini Vethasalam Ragananthini Vethasalam Updated 4 years ago · Published on 11 Jun 2019 11:00AM · 7 Comments

Members of the Mehdi Foundation International interfaith spiritual association taking part in a protest denouncing Islamic scholar Zakir Naik in New Delhi, India, on July 18 2016. Zakir is wanted in India for inciting terror. – EPA pic, June 11, 2019.

HUNDREDS of online commentators from India have called for their government to launch a boycott of trade and tourism with Malaysia in response to Putrajaya’s refusal to extradite wanted Muslim preacher Zakir Naik.

In the comments section of a Times of India’s article, internet users expressed their anger at Malaysia’s stance with regard to Zakir’s repatriation.

“BitterTruth” urged the Indian government to “stop trade with Malaysia”, a call echoed by many angry commentators.

Shastri Sharat said the results can be seen if India stops importing palm oil from Malaysia, which is the second largest crude palm oil producer in the world.

India is one of Malaysia’s largest trading partners, with trade between the two countries increasing from just US$600 million in 1992 to US$13.32 billion in 2012.

In 2017, both countries signed a new business deal amounting to US$36 billion (RM152 billion) with the exchange of 31 business memorandum of understanding (MoUs), the largest in the history of economic relations between the two.

India is also the world’s biggest importer of vegetable oils, with palm oil making up some 80% of its annual import of almost nine million tonnes of edible oils.

Another internet user, Aniket Mahajan, said Indian travel companies should boycott Malaysia.

“Indians should avoid Malaysia for tourism. And decrease trade with them. Keeping one who breeds hate will affect other religions in their country and in longer run will impact Malaysia and their citizens,” said IndianOneIndia.

Manoj Gupta said Indians make up a large percentage of tourist arrivals in Malaysia and should boycott the country to show their protest.

Malaysia recently revealed that the number of Indian tourists grew from 552,000 in 2017 to 600,000 in 2018.

India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) is set to secure an arrest warrant against Zakir and others in an ongoing trial heard by a special court in Mumbai under its Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002.

The Indian government regards Naik as a “hate preacher” who has allegedly incited listeners to terrorism.

The controversial televangelist left India in 2016 and has been staying in Malaysia under a permanent residency (PR).

India recently obtained a non-bailable warrant for the Islamic preacher, which allows the agency to apply to Interpol for a red notice placing Zakir on a wanted list.

Malaysia is an Interpol member and has also signed an extradition treaty with India.

However, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday that before repatriating Zakir, Malaysia must first be assured that he will receive fair treatment once he is deported.

He also compared Zakir’s situation with Australia’s refusal to extradite Sirul Azhar Umar, who is facing the death penalty after being convicted with the murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu. – June 11, 2019.

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Comments

  • Is Zakir Naik really worth protecting by the government? It is not just India that has blacklisted this man who is wanted for alleged crimes. Other countries also have blacklisted him. Why? If he is as holy and innocent as he says he is surely he is welcome as most other religious preachers are.
    Now our government is willing to jeopardize the country's well being to protect this beast? He has absolutely no respect for any other religion or thinking different from his. He is toxic material that has to be got rid of, even worse than the toxic waste of Lynas. At least India is willing to take him back to face charges. Get rid of this poison.

    Posted 4 years ago by Mike Mok · Reply

  • Who are we to protect an alleged merchant of hate and a money launderer besides inciting terrorist acts? Makes no sense legally and morally.

    Posted 4 years ago by Rupert Lum · Reply

  • So there you have it! Government pandering to the low life in PAS and certain Malay/Muslim misfits has its price. As if we don't have enough problems on our plate we're having to face the fury of India, one of our closest friends and among the strongest economies on the planet. Just because of one schizophrenic religious conman, the government is risking severely damaging our economy and for such a trivial and stupid reason! All those do-gooders who screamed about 'procedures' when Latheefa was appointed to the MACC, where are your voices now? To Tun, all I can say is, you've made your bed, now lie in it. You made a decision and now must accept its consequences. In the process, so many ordinary people both Muslims and non-Muslims are going to suffer.

    Posted 4 years ago by Simple Sulaiman · Reply

  • Time for malaysian palm oil growers especially Felda malays to give the middle finger to the government for exchanging their hardhip

    Posted 4 years ago by S L · Reply

  • The warrant is for money laundering. Nothing to do with his preaching activities lah

    Posted 4 years ago by H. Mokhtar · Reply

  • The warrant is for money laundering. Nothing to do with his preaching activities lah

    Posted 4 years ago by H. Mokhtar · Reply

  • Then Malaysia must also stop trying to extradite Jho Low as he is complaining that he will not get a fair trial in Malaysia. Malaysia cannot practice double standards. Religion must not have anything to do with the process of law. If Interpol issues a Red Notice, then it must be complied with. Mahathir did say, not long ago, about DZN's extradition that the process of law will be complied with.

    Posted 4 years ago by Ravinder Singh · Reply