Let us know about Zakir’s extradition before informing India

The Malaysian Insight The Malaysian Insight Updated 4 years ago · Published on 8 Nov 2019 11:00AM · 4 Comments

Dr Zakir Naik delivering a talk on the Quran in the Kelantan Trade Centre in August. The Indian-born preacher has denied links to terrorism. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Afif Abd Halim, November 8, 2019.

FOREIGN Affairs Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said last night that Malaysia will be writing to officially inform India of its decision not to send fugitive preacher Zakir Naik to his country of birth.

The letter is in response to a request by his Indian counterpart for something in black and white on this issue. Perfectly understandable request by New Delhi given that some of the reasons Putrajaya has given for protecting Zakir over the past few months have ranged from the condescending to the ridiculous.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Putrajaya is concerned that the controversial preacher – who was given permanent residence status here when Najib Razak was PM – won’t get a fair trial in India. He faces a clutch of charges related to money-laundering offences. 

Dr Mahathir has also said that Malaysia is in a quandary over deporting Zakir. The reason: no country wants to have him. One wonders why.

Perhaps these countries, including Muslim nations, also believe like many Malaysians that he is a divisive figure.

Yes, for a while now, we have heard bits and pieces of reasons Malaysia won’t deport Zakir to India. But we have never been given the official reason.

India has requested for an official reason for Malaysia rejecting its extradition request for a number of seasons.  Chief among them is to calibrate a response in proportion to what Malaysia says. This response could result in trade sanctions or perhaps even a downgrading of relations. 

We say that just as New Delhi deserves an official reason for Zakir’s continued protection by Malaysia, so do Malaysians.

He allegedly insulted Chinese Malaysians and Indian Malaysian at a gathering in Kota Baru and as a result, there has been a clear desire on the part of citizens of this country to have him deported.

The vast majority of these Malaysians voted for Pakatan Harapan at GE14 and surely the least they should expect from the people they put in power in some honesty and clarity on the Zakir issue.

Because like India, only after Malaysians have read and dissected the official reason/reasons Malaysia refuses to extradite Zakir to India can we measure our response to the PH government.

So how about it, Saifuddin? 

How about informing Malaysians officially on why the government will not deport Zakir to India?

The absence of an official explanation will only further alienate a substantial segment of the people who have more of a claim to Malaysia than Zakir will ever have.

The absence of an official explanation will only prompt many to act on rumour and innuendo, and the end result could be a large swathe of the PH vote bank giving the ballot box a miss at by-elections and GE15 – a development that will be a death knell for the pact.

So how about it, Saifuddin?

Let Malaysians know why a controversial and incendiary figure detested by many Malaysians will not be deported? – November 8, 2019.

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Comments

  • This clearly shows that nothing much has really changed. Earlier it was the Cabinet and civil servants bending over backwards in assisting Najib in mega theft. Now it is the Cabinet and civil servants bending over backwards to flout international norms and practices, just to obey Mahathir's ridiculous arguments and diktats.

    Posted 4 years ago by Simple Sulaiman · Reply

  • Wanting to be the champion of Islamic world? Certainly protecting a fugitive and depriving him of a chance to clear his name is not the virtuous way. Why leave a black stain in your holy pursuit?

    Posted 4 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Certain parties within PH are digging their graves ahead of next GE. Voters have given them second chances once too many. Stop taking voters for granted.

    Posted 4 years ago by Concerned Citizen · Reply

  • NOTHING has changed, since corrupt UMNO was defeated-simply because millions wanted change. Every race in Malaysia is against radicalism, segregation, nepotism and religious intolerance. When DR M keeps this racist in Malaysia-it speaks very loudly about Bersatu policies against Non-Malays. Are they another KKK in Malaysia, after all the MB of Perak made his position clear about Non-Malays. The government works for Malaysians and not a particular race. Kick this bum out as the sanctions are killing Malay farmers, additionally-the whole world is wondering what is Malaysia when they give refuge to a criminal, racist terrorist lover.

    Posted 4 years ago by James Lucas · Reply