A VIDEO clip of Zakir Naik’s speech, allegedly recorded in Kelantan, is going viral on social media.

In the said clip, the fugitive preacher – who is wanted for money laundering crime in India – is seen questioning the loyalty of Malaysian Hindus.

He is comparing the Hindus of Malaysia and Muslims of India, saying Hindus here are better off than Muslims there.

As usual, this man is speaking claptrap and doesn’t provide any facts, but a mere statement to inflame animosity between Hindus and Muslims in Malaysia.

In the excerpts of the speech, Zakir Naik is saying the “6.4% Hindu population in Malaysia is treated 100 times better than the 14% Muslim population in India” and implying that Malaysian Hindus are more loyal to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, compared to Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad.

He is accusing Malaysian Hindus of being disloyal to Malaysia, which is our homeland.

This foreign criminal, who is running away from the law of his own motherland, has no right to question the loyalty of Malaysian Hindus.

Proud Malaysians

Unlike the Indian national Zakir Naik who is hiding in a foreign country, after facing charges of money laundering in his homeland, the majority of Malaysian Hindus have never run away, living in this country, proudly.

We are proud citizens of Malaysia, because we don’t have to use our religion as justification to run away from criminal charges, and we are loyal to this country, for which our forefathers shed their sweat and blood to build.

If anyone is disloyal to his country, it is none other than Zakir Naik.

After making his fortune in India, through dubious activities, this criminal is now going around casting doubts about Malaysian Hindu loyalty.

Zakir Naik, mirror yourself before making any more provoking statements like this, brother.

Each and every of us, be it Hindus, Muslims or Christians, are proud of our country, Malaysia; good or bad, we will not run away.

We are not like Zakir Naik, who is on the run, badmouthing his motherland.

Malaysians, irrespective of our race and religion, put our country first.

There’s no question about being disloyal to this motherland of ours.

Malaysians of various religions, carried the flag of our nation, in their proud moments, not their race and religion.

For instance, the first Malaysians to reach the summit of Mt Everest, Magendran and Mohanadass, Hindus by the way, carried the Malaysian flag; not their race or religion.

The same goes with Malaysians of various races and religions, who are in service to protect this country.

Det Cpl Raju Saghadevan, who died in the hands of Al-Maunah terrorists, didn’t die for his religion; he died defending the country from the terrorists who waged war against our Yang Di-Pertuan Agong.

Of course, Zakir Naik, a person shy of facts, will not know all this.

How much more?

How long is the Malaysian government going to let this guy stay in our country and stir racial, religious tension?

Earlier, he stoked religious tension by comparing religions and insulting the minorities in this country.

Now, he’s openly stoking tension among the Malaysians of different religions, by questioning loyalty of Malaysian Hindus.

Yet, the Malaysian government is still reluctant to send this hate preacher away, its justification is that he will not get “a fair trial” in India.

However, is it worth it keeping him here, when the harmony and peace of Malaysian society is threatened by his constant hate preaching?

Dr Mahathir’s government cannot close an eye to the obvious danger this man poses to our country’s peace and religious harmony.

I can understand the government’s fair trial stance in the Zakir Naik’s Issue.

If the prime minister and the government thinks he will certainly be tortured if he’s sent back to India, why not send him to some other country where his preaching will not threaten peace and harmony?

Zakir Naik has Saudi citizenship, why not send him there?

Don’t tell us that Saudi Arabia will let their fellow brethren face “unjust infidel laws”, if he’s sent there.

Malaysians, irrespective of their racial and religious differences joined hands to create this new Malaysia, in which we all thought, finally, the racial, religious rhetoric would end.

Yet, it looks like race relations is deteriorating due to the government’s reluctance to take a strong stand on issues like this.

Are we going to allow extremists like Zakir Naik to disturb the beautifully diverse Malaysian society?

Are we going to forsake the peace and harmony of our country, defending the dividing force like Zakir Naik?

* Satees Muniandy is assemblyman for Bagan Dalam, Penang

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.