A Malaysian minister said India-born Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, a permanent resident of Malaysia, should not be allowed to remain in the country as he has no standing to critique its matters or cast aspersions on local communities.
Malaysia Human Resources Minister M Kulasegaran said Naik’s actions did not reflect one deserving of a permanent resident status and this will be brought up in the next Cabinet meeting, according to an India Today report.
“Naik is an outsider, who is a fugitive and has little knowledge of the Malaysian history. Therefore, he should not be given such privilege to run down other Malaysians and question their loyalty to the country,” the minister said in a statement.
The controversial preacher is wanted in India for his alleged links with terror activities and money laundering.
Kulasegaran also questioned the preacher’s motives in claiming that Indians in Malaysia were more loyal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi than Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
As per the report, the minister also asked if the controversial preacher has been emboldened by his apparent immunity and privilege due to local Muslim support. “It’s time for the fugitive foreigner to leave Malaysia and to face charges of terrorism and money laundering charges in India,” he said.
