Zakir Naik talk approved like any other student activity, says UUM official

Ragananthini Vethasalam Ragananthini Vethasalam Updated 7 years ago · Published on 11 Apr 2019 7:05PM · 3 Comments

Controversial preacher Zakir Naik’s imminent appearance at a government university has caused consternation among some politicians, who say he should not be allowed to impose his ‘terrorist’ ideology on impressionable young minds. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, April 11, 2019.

A TALK featuring Zakir Naik was approved like any other student activity, said Universiti Utara Malaysia student affairs director Massudi Mahmuddin.

“We approved the activity, just like other student activities. The programme director had also sought advice from the police and the religious department,” Massudi told The Malaysian Insight.

He said the programme director consulted the respective authorities before the university greenlighted the event that is open to staff and students.

“It (the talk) is all about how to be a good professional Muslim,” Massudi said, referring to the title of the talk.

The televangelist will speak for three hours on the topic “Duty of a Muslim as a Professional” at UUM’s Muadzam Shah Hall on April 18, 8.30pm.

The poster circulated online states that admission is free and open to Muslims and non-Muslims.

Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching told reporters in Parliament earlier today that the university has autonomy on the matter.

“It’s for the university to answer,” she said.

Meanwhile, MCA vice-president Ti Lian Kee slammed Teo for failing to advise the university against engaging with Zakir.

“Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching failed big time when she did not advise UUM to stop engaging with Zakir nor expose his ‘terrorist’ ideology and his disparaging of the religious ways of others nor impressionable students.

“This is despite her party DAP’s stand that Zakir is a clear liability to Malaysia as headlined in their party organ and instrument,” he said, referring to a December 11, 2017 statement by Penang Deputy Chief Minister Ramasamy.

Ti added that Teo chose the easy way out by quoting autonomy and freedom, instead of using her capacity as a minister to advise the university of “the potential damage” and “negative influence” the preacher could have on the students.

“It has always been MCA’s stand that there is no room for extremism in Malaysia and we would not have had to accede to or encourage the ways of these extremists by quoting ‘freedom’ or ‘autonomy’ when our duty is to remind or give a reminder to the authorities that may be,” he said.

Zakir is wanted in India for money laundering and inciting religious hatred and supporting terrorism. – April 11, 2019.

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Comments

  • I dare MCA to hold a protest rally at UUM during Zakir Naik talks in UUM. Anyway Deputy EM Neo is right about UUM autonomy but that is only an easy way out to avoid the concerns. She should be astute enough to go by rules of law by enforcing that Zakir Naik speeches and talks are validated and conform to the topic. During the presentations if any thing that arouse suspicions and sensitivities then she should act to have him arrested for racial and religious incitement. Do not make it easy for him. Place him under close watch and intense radar specifically to curb his adventurous evil intentions in spreading extremes radical terrorism to the young and naive students. Request for many plain clothes and vigilante to ensure he conforms.That should tame him down and he will be apprehensive in playing his con game on young students.

    Posted 7 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • Scumbag moron asshole Terrorist zakir soon u will be taken back to India your end stops there.

    Posted 7 years ago by Danial Abdullah · Reply

  • Whats wrong his giving on talk duty of muslim professional? If hes doing anything wrong there is law in the country. As far i am concerned hes a good speaker.

    Posted 7 years ago by Abdul Murad Othman · Reply