CIVIL liberties lawyer Syahredzan Johan today clarified he merely suggested that the authorities revoke controversial India-born preacher Zakir Naik’s permanent residency (PR), not kick him out of Malaysia.

Syahredzan’s Facebook post yesterday angered many social media users.

“I said maybe the government should cancel his PR status because of what he had said,” Syahredzan told reporters outside the Dang Wangi police station today after lodging a report.

The lawyer lodged a report after receiving a death threat.

The threat came from a Facebook user known as Zuhir Razak (not real name) who posted: “You are a bastard. You expel Dr Zakir Naik, I will hunt you until I find you and I will separate that pig head of yours from your body. This I swear for the sake of Islam and the Malay race.”

Syahredzan said the preacher could go to another country of his choosing. 

“I didn’t ask for him to be sent back to India. I believe I took an approach, to me is not stern, where I had asked for it (PR) to be cancelled and for him to choose which country he wants to go.”

Yesterday in Syahredzan’s Facebook status, the aide to DAP MP Lim Kit Siang, said the preacher’s status could be revoked under the Immigration Act 1959/63 since his remarks have allegedly prejudiced public order.

“To prevent any untoward situation if he is sent back to India, the government can immediately revoke the Malaysian PR status he has,” Syahredzan had said, adding he had written the statement himself and posted it on his Facebook public page that he handles.

The lawyer said he was “shocked” at the tone of the threatening message, and felt threatened, adding he hoped the writer will not act on his threat.

Lim, who accompanied Syahredzan today to the police station today, said he also found the threat shocking.

“I am shocked such things can happen in our country. We should not be condoning such actions, especially death threats. We have to oppose it the Malaysian way.

“If there is a conflict, we can discuss and debate it in a rational way, and not by force,” said Lim.

At a recent ceramah in Kota Baru, Kelantan, Zakir had said it was unfortunate that Hindus in Malaysia are more loyal to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi than their own Dr Mahathir Mohamad despite receiving “100 times” more rights than Muslims in India.

He later accused his critics of quoting him out of context.

A subsequent media report quoted Zakir as snubbing calls for him to leave the country and saying that most Chinese in Malaysia were not born here.

Zakir was granted PR status here despite India’s request that he be extradited to face charges relating to money-laundering and terrorism. – August 15, 2019.