SOME 300,000 Indians who have lived here since Merdeka still do not have identity cards. Yet a controversial Muslim preacher from India was easily granted permanent residency five years ago.

Why?

Dr Zakir Naik’s PR status continued to be a contentious subject as more leaders of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition called for a review of his PR status given that his comments have slighted non-Muslims.

Also, a lawyer and former deputy minister questioned how Zakir qualified for PR status even while a plan to grant ICs to 300,000 Indians Malaysians was ignored by the Cabinet.

Barisan Nasional leader James Masing said Zakir was a “dangerous person” for a plural country such as Malaysia and that his PR status should be reviewed.

“Zakir Naik is a dangerous person to reside in multiracial and multi-religious Malaysia. His PR should be reviewed,” Masing, who is Parti Rakyat Sarawak president, told The Malaysian Insight.

“We live in peace because we respect each other’s religious beliefs, and we don’t condemn other religions just because they are different from ours,” said the Sarawak deputy chief minister.

In one of his interviews, Zakir was alleged to have said: “How can we allow this (building of temples and churches in an Islamic nation) when their religion is wrong…when their worshipping is wrong.

He is also wanted by India to facilitate a probe into him for spreading terrorism propaganda.

Zakir fled India after investigations were launched against him and his organisation, Islamic Research Foundation, for terror propaganda.

Another BN leader, Senator Chong Sin Woon criticised how Malay supremacist groups such as Perkasa lionised Zakir, who recently received a warrior award from the association.

This accolade was given to the founder of the India-based Islamic Research Foundation, despite his comments seen as demeaning towards non-Muslims and other religions.

“He should not be treated like a hero. We have enough wisdom to deal with racial and religious issues in this country,” Chong, who is Deputy Education Minister told The Malaysian Insight.

“If he continues to utter derogatory remarks against non-Muslims then we should reconsider his (PR) status,” said the MCA Youth chief.

Deputy Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirmed that Zakir, who is wanted in India for allegedly inciting violence, had been granted PR status in Malaysia five years ago.

Yesterday, Cabinet Minister Dr S. Subramaniam said that Zakir was not needed in Malaysia despite claims by groups such as Perkasa that the preacher had contributed to the advancement of Islam.

On April 11, police banned a previously scheduled talk by Zakir in Malacca on Islam and Hinduism.

Chong echoed Subramaniam’s views, adding that Malaysia had been able to forge harmony and peace between followers of its diverse faiths for decades.

Another deputy Cabinet Minister Devamany S. Krishnasamy also called on the government to consider reviewing Zakir’s PR status.

“If he continues to cause disharmony, then we should seriously consider reviewing the decision (to grant him PR status,” said Devamany.

“He is not relevant for Malaysia and the fabric of our society. He should not disturb the peace that we have built for decades.”

The BN’s leaders’ comments come on the back of calls by non-Muslim groups to revoke the preacher’s status. The Hindu Rights Action Front questioned how Zakir could have obtained PR status when so many Indians Malaysias did not have ICs.

“When HINDRAF was in the Department of Prime Minister, we had provided them with a comprehensive white paper … to resolve the estimated thousands of stateless Indians who have been living all their lives in this country since the independence in 1957 yet it was brushed aside without a wink,” said Hindraf chair person Waytha Moorthy Ponnusamy.

“Now we have the current administration which we believe is acting ultra vires by circumventing the constitution and its requirement as seen in the case of Zakir Naik without any accountability and responsibility towards the nation and its people.”

Waytha Moorthy said that individuals applying for PR must fulfil several requirements. This includes either depositing a minimum of USD 2 million into a local bank account or being a certified expert. The applicant must also have a record of good conduct from his country of origin.

“HINDRAF fails to see how Zakir Naik would have qualified for the above,” Waytha Moorthy said.

“Unless alternatively the previous Home Minister had decided to invoked Section 55 of the Immigration Act with the power to exempt. If so, is there a gazette to support as required and the basis of it?”

Malay rights group Perkasa, however, hit out at critics of Zakir’s PR status in Malaysia, saying they needed to be schooled on the government’s rights and authority.

“Malaysia is clearly a sovereign nation and like many others, has the right and prerogative to confer PR on anyone,” its vice-chairman, Hassan Basri Muhammad, was quoted as saying by news portal FMT.

Earlier this week, Perkasa honoured Zakir with its warrior award, “Anugerah Bintang Pahlawan Pribumi Perkasa Negara”, for his contributions towards the struggle of Islam. – April 21, 2017.