ISLAMIC preacher Zakir Naik will continue with his speeches planned for this weekend at a religious camp in Perlis amidst calls for him to leave Malaysia.

His assistant, Zamri Vinoth, said Zakir had not received any official instructions to discontinue his speaking programmes, and he did not think Putrajaya would be taking any action despite calls by its own ministers for the controversial preacher to leave the country.

Zamri said Zakir, who holds Malaysian permanent residency, believed the Malaysian government would continue to allow freedom of speech.

“The programmes have been arranged and will continue as planned, as long as there is no official instruction.

“And even if there were some orders, we would want to know under which law Zakir would be asked to stop from speaking. There is no solid reason (why he should stop), so we intend to continue,” Zamri told The Malaysian Insight.

Zakir and his son Fariq Naik are scheduled to deliver speeches at the Malaysia Reverts Camp tomorrow and over the weekend at Masjid Al Hussain in Kuala Perlis.

On Saturday night, Zakir will field a question-and-answer session “Ask Dr Zakir”, and on Sunday morning, he will speak on “Quran – The Path to Happiness”.

This follows a speaking programme in Kota Baru, Kelantan, earlier this month, where Zakir has been accused of insulting Malaysian Hindus by questioning their loyalty to Malaysia. He also called Malaysian Chinese “guests” and said they should “go back”.

This sparked an outcry and saw calls for Zakir’s deportation to India, including by a few ministers. The preacher is wanted there for alleged money-laundering, hate speech and for inciting terrorism.

Interpol, however, has not issued a red corner notice for him despite India’s request, while Malaysia has not entertained India’s request for his extradition.

Malaysia’s position, according to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir, is that Zakir is best allowed to stay here as there is no guarantee of a fair trial if he were deported to India.

Zamri said those who were angry with Zakir should come to the question-and-answer session where they can pose questions to him themselves.

“I urge all the YBs, ministers who are not happy, please come and ask him questions yourselves. Don’t talk through the media. It’s not like you don’t have the chance to meet him,” he said.

Cabinet members who have called for Zakir to leave the country are Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo, Human Resources Minister M. Kula Segaran and Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar.

Other Pakatan Harapan members have also expressed the same on social media. – August 15, 2019.