Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian police questioned controversial Indian Islamic preacher Zakir Naik for allegedly making insensitive remarks about race in the multi-ethnic country, as pressure mounts on authorities to kick him out.
The interrogation came hours after Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad told Naik that he was not allowed to participate in political activities in the country.
On Monday, Melaka joined the list of Malaysian provinces to ban Naik from making public speeches.
Naik, a radical televangelist, who has called the 9/11 attacks an “inside job”, left India in 2016 and moved to largely Muslim Malaysia, where he was granted permanent residency. He is wanted in India for inciting extremism and money laundering, and New Delhi last year asked Malaysia to extradite him, according to reports — a request that was rejected.
Calls are mounting for action after Naik said Hindus in Malaysia have “100 times” more rights than India’s Muslim minority, and suggested Chinese Malaysians should be expelled before him.
This is the second time that the Islamic preacher has been summoned by Malaysian authorities after his alleged racial remarks. The 53-year-old preacher, who is a permanent resident in Muslim-majority Malaysia, had his statement recorded for the first time on August 16, the report said.
Reacting to Naik’s comments, Mahathir on Sunday said it was “quite clear” Naik wanted to participate in racial politics. “He is stirring up racial feelings. The police will have to investigate whether it is causing tension; obviously, it is,” he said.
Mahathir added that as a permanent resident, Naik was not allowed to participate in politics. “You can preach (religiously). But he wasn’t doing that,” he said. “He was talking about Chinese going back to China and Indians going back to India. I have never said such things. But he did. That is politics,” Mahathir said. Several of his cabinet ministers have publicly called for Naik to be kicked out.
The government has in the past appeared reluctant to move against Naik for fear it could upset some Muslims as well as provide ammunition to political opponents.
