Malaysia Cabinet discusses Zakir Naik row

Smita Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 13

Just days after Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said that controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik would not be deported to India, the matter was raised in the Cabinet.

Malaysian ministers YB Gobind Singh Deo, YB Xavier Jayakumar and Kula Segaran discussed the matter with the PM and asked Attorney General for details of official request from India.

Mahathir Mohamad in response to media questions last week said Naik has permanent residency in Malaysia and will not be sent back to India as long as he abides by the law.

However, his senior ministers passed the buck to the courts instead of government or one man deciding Naik’s fate.

“This is the right way of doing things, it is not right for the government nor one man to decide this matter, it should be decided by law in the courts as they have the duty to dispense justice,” said Human Resource Minister Segaran in a statement emphasising upon the rule of law.

He added he would discuss the matter with PM Modi if he visits India.

While New Delhi maintains that the request for formal extradition by the Ministry of External Affairs was made with Kuala Lumpur in January this year, the Malaysian leaders, however, raised questions about it.

“Let the Indian government make the necessary deportation order and we will follow the rule of law, but the bottom line was that the Indian government must make that request,” said Segaran.

Earlier on Thursday, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar reiterated that Indian request for deportation of Naik was under consideration by Malaysian government and the two sides remain in touch.

Recently a senior Malaysian lawyer, Khatri Abdulla, cited Interpol’s denial of India’s red corner notice against Naik last October to argue that case against the televangelist is weak and Mahathir government cannot be blamed for his stay in the country.

Naik, who fled India in 2016, is accused of hate speeches inciting youth into terrorism and money laundering. Naik denies those charges and even met with Mahathir Mohamad recently.