INDIA has reminded Malaysia that there is one country that would be happy to take Dr Zakir Naik, following Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s claim that the country had to keep the controversial preacher because nobody else wanted him.
“Let me make it very clear for the record. There is an extradition request (sent in January 2018). We want Zakir Naik back and that is what we are working on,” Indian Foreign MinisterJaishankar said today on Hindustantimes.com.
He was responding to Dr Mahathir, who yesterday said Malaysia was “trying to find a place that he can go to, but at the moment, no one wants to accept him”.
Dr Mahathir went on to say that the Indian prime minister had not said he wanted Zakir back during a meeting between the leaders in Russia recently.
“India has not insisted. I met Mr (Narendra) Modi, and he didn’t (say) he wants this man back. This man could also be troublesome for India,” he said.
Jaishankar, however, said in today’s news report that it was communicated to the Malaysian delegates in that meeting that India expected the preacher to be extradited.
The Mumbai-born Zakir is wanted at home for allegedly inciting terrorism, hate speech and money-laundering
The Malaysian government is also under pressure at home to repatriate the provocative preacher, who has riled up the people with his comments on the Chinese and Hindu communities. His continued presence has given rise to concerns of a growing rift between Malaysians, who are divided into those who want him to go away and others who insist he should stay.
Zakir is also embroiled in a row with several elected representatives who have been critical of the racial slant of some of his speeches. The preacher, who is a permanent resident of Malaysia, is taking them to court for defamation after his demands for a public apology and suitable “compensation” went unheeded.
Following his inflammatory remarks, the police have slapped Zakir with a gag order that prohibits him from speaking in public, including on social media. – September 18, 2019.
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