There is nothing wrong with being an 'extremist' as encouraged in the Quran, said controversial Muslim preacher Dr Zakir Naik.

Zakir, however, was quick to add that the 'extremist' view should not be taken in the wrong context.

"I tell people that I am an extremist. Extremely nice, extremely merciful, extremely loving.

"Tell me, what is wrong with being extremely nice, extremely merciful and extremely loving?" Zakir told some 20,000 people who attended his lecture at the Universiti Teknikal Malaysia campus in Malacca last night.

"The Quran mentions that we must be an extremist in being good, merciful and loving.

"Extremist in a good way and not towards the wrong path," he said in delivering the lecture titled 'Islam-Problem and Solution to Humanity'.

In his lecture, Zakir also urged the public to do their research before accepting any false information about Islam.

"In the international media, there are propaganda about Islam and everyday we will find misconceptions about Islam whether in the newspapers, magazines, radio or television.

"Today, in my view, the media plays a very important role. What the media says, whether true or false, the people will believe," said Zakir who quoted verses from the Al-Hujurat chapter in the Quran on importance of verification before spreading information.

In response to his allegedly hardline stance on terrorism, the Mumbai-born preacher has reportedly been banned from speaking in Singapore and was told by the Canadian government in 2010 that he would not be allowed entry.

He was also barred from entering the United Kingdom in 2010.

Co-organisers of the Zakir Naik Malaysia Tour 2016, however, had in response to concerns raised by critics said that the affairs of other countries have " nothing to do " with Malaysia.