The Penang state government has decided to allow an event featuring the son of controversial preacher Zakir Naik in the state, Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Mohd Rashid Hasnon said today.

The son, Fariq Naik, will be speaking at an event titled "Misconceptions about Islam" at the Penyayang Community Centre on Friday night.

Rashid said this decision was reached after a discussion between the state executive council, chaired by the Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, Rashid himself and Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy.

"The Penang government has given permission and decided that the Penyayang Community Centre will be used for the programme organised by Pertubuhan Penyebaran Islam Antarabangsa (IPSI) with Fariq Naik, with two conditions as discussed between the organiser and the police," Rashid said in a statement.

The two conditions stipulate that Fariq must not touch upon or belittle other religions and that the state police are kept informed.

The state government also invites the people of Penang of all races to attend and celebrate the discourse of knowledge for the peace and unity of all races in Penang, he said.

This announcement comes after Fariq's father, Zakir, had his talk in Malacca slated for April 17 cancelled by the police on grounds of potential public unrest and to protect religious sensitivities in the country.

'No other faith must be belittled'

The police later said they will allow his lecture in Kuala Lumpur, on April 16, as long as the organisers ensure it is confined to matters related to Islam and no other faith is belittled in the process.

Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar has said he would not reconsider the decision to ban Zakir's lecture in Malacca, titled "Similarities between Islam and Hinduism".

The lecture series featuring Zakir is organised by Hidayah Centre and 10 other NGOs.

Khalid's move to ban the Malacca event ignited a heated debate and drew mixed responses, with those opposed to the scholar expressing gratitude while numerous Muslim groups expressed disappointment.

MIC as well as NGOs had protested Zakir's lecture series in Malaysia, claiming that the Indian national had a tendency to insult other religions.

However, Umno Youth was among those who disagreed with the ban.

The issue also saw a split among Pakatan Harapan parties, with Ramasamy accusing Zakir of sowing hatred towards non-Muslims while Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) decried the move to clamp down on intellectual discourse.