MALACCA police are not preventing a religious meeting featuring preacher Zakir Naik from taking place on September 7 because he will not be speaking, state police chief Raja Shahrom Raja Abdullah said.

“There is no ceramah, so police will not stop the event. If there is to be a ceramah, they will have to get approval from the state mufti’s office,” Raja Shahrom told The Malaysian Insight 

The “Malam Islam Bersatu Bersama Dr Zakir Naik” event at Masjid Cina Krubong is organised by Paya Rumput assemblyman Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen and was advertised on a poster, which was then circulated via WhatsApp and on social media.

The event is being held amid a police ban on Zakir from preaching on any platform pending police investigations into remarks he made at a ceramah in Kota Baru, Kelantan last month, where he allegedly offended Malaysian Hindus and Chinese.

Raja Sharom said the Bersatu rep had already sought police permission to hold the event.

“Paya Rumput assemblyman Rafiq contacted us asking if it is okay to have the event. As long as there is no speeches we (police) will not stop any religious ceremony,” he said.

Malacca Menteri Besar Adly Zahari last month said Zakir would be banned from speaking in the state after outcry at his speech in Kota Baru.

But Rafiq last night said Adly had agreed with the police’s decision. 

Malacca exco member Kerk Chee Yee last night said although Zakir will not be speaking, he remains a controversial figure to many Malaysians and as such the “spirit” of the decision to bar him from speaking should be observed.

Zakir holds Malaysian permanent residency and resides here to avoid charges in his native India, where he is wanted for alleged money-laundering and inciting terrorist acts.

Putrajaya’s position is not to deport the controversial preacher on grounds that he will not get a fair trial in India, but has also warned him not to say anything that would jeopardise Malaysia’s race relations. – September 2, 2019.