IT’S been a year since his last public lecture in Malaysia, during which time religious leaders and activists have tried to get him booted back to India, but Dr Zakir Naik is as unflappable as ever.

Fresh from delivering a talk on Islam to a full house, the controversial Muslim preacher and proselytiser batted away the criticism he has received and dismissed the campaign to deport him.

“There will always be people who are uncomfortable with me. I can’t satisfy everyone,” the 53-year-old Zakir told The Malaysian Insight as dozens of fans surround him for selfies after hearing him speak at Dewan 2020 in Kangar.  

And it’s partly these fans that keep the former medical doctor motivated even as some human rights activists petition the government to deport him back to his native India, where he is wanted on a string of criminal charges.

“There are more fans (than critics), multiple fans everywhere. More than those who disagree with me,” said Zakir, who has been accused of denigrating other faiths.

Last March, a group of activists filed a civil suit to get the government to declare Zakir a threat to national security, and to arrest and deport him immediately. The suit was struck out by the High Court.

When Pakatan Harapan took over the government after the 14th general election, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Zakir could stay as long as he did not cause any trouble.

The fandom Zakir claims to enjoy was illustrated during his talk –  the first in his Perlis tour – entitled “Is Islam the solution for humanity’s problems?”

The hall was nearly filled to capacity with 90% of its 1,000 seats taken.

The audience patiently endured the heat and the humidity when the air conditioning failed to start. The women, who made up more than half of the audience, fanned themselves furiously and stayed for the full two hours of lecture.

Some had driven two and half hours from Penang to hear Zakir speak.

In his one hour speech, Zakir steered clear of talking about other religions as he had done in past.

He focused instead on answering the topic and argued that problems such as poverty, theft and rape could be solved by following Islamic concepts such as collecting tithes from the rich and implementing a modest dress code.  

Yet Islam is not seen as being able to solve such problems as the Western media has a propaganda campaign against the religion, he said. Much of today’s coverage is aimed at depicting the faith as barbaric and intolerant, he added.  

“These days, if you want to be famous write a book against Islam. If you are unknown writer, you will be instantly known. If you are already known, you go to the top of the best-sellers list,” Zakir said.

“If you are Muslim who writes a book against Islam, you will be an instant millionaire.”

He also urged Muslims to turn the tables on Islamophobia and fighting labels such Muslims are intolerant and are extremists.

“I always say, yes I am intolerant. I am intolerant towards racism, corruption, crime, prostitution, adultery and alcoholism.

“I am an extremist as I am extremely generous, merciful, loving, honest and just.”

During the question-and-answer session after his lecture, a woman in a black and purple niqab  took the microphone and apologised to Zakir for “hating him”.

“When I was a non-Muslim I hated you. When my Muslim friends mentioned your name I told them I hated you,” said the woman, who said she did not want to reveal her name.

She did not say why she hated Zakir and what had caused her to change her mind.

She said many non-Muslims felt the same animosity towards the preacher.

But it is undeniable that Zakir is popular among the Muslims. His official Facebook page has 17 million likes.

He has won civilian awards from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Gambia and Malaysia. The Perlis Crown Prince Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullalai opened and launched last night’s talk.

But Zakir is reviled by many non-Muslims. The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism claims that Zakir has been quietly spreading negative views of non-Muslims. The council leaders want his permanent residency revoked. 

Zakir was barred from entering the United Kingdom in 2010.

With all the ill will he has to endure, the anonymous woman last night asked him how he was able to go on preaching.

 “Please forgive me for hating you,” the woman added. 

In response, Zakir said: “I thank you for hating me because there are many examples in history where the people who hated Islam the most eventually became its strongest supporters.” 

Zakir said he was not disheartened by his detractors, including the Indian authorities, who charged him with inciting violence, among others.

India has requested that Zakir be extradited but he remains in Malaysia.

Zakir claims he was persecuted at home because of his work to spread Islam.

“I didn’t break a single law of the country. But because I was spreading peace, because I was serving humanity, all who do not want peace to prevail don’t like it.

“The more they strive against me, the more I will strive to spread my message.” – December 2, 2018.