INTERVIEW | Education minister-designate Maszlee Malik has clarified that his support for controversial Muslim preacher Zakir Naik extends as far as for the latter’s freedom of speech, but not for his alleged preaching of hatred.

Ever since the Simpang Renggam MP was announced for the ministerial post last Friday, criticism against his apparent support for Zakir has surfaced.

In response, Maszlee explained that his support was based on his commitment to the principle of freedom of speech, but that he did not condone any incitement of hatred, as Zakir has been accused of doing.

“I respect freedom of speech, just like I respect freedom of expression.

“And it applies to everybody... Just like how I respect Christians and Buddhists for being able to express their points of view, I respect Muslims for being able to express their views.

“When it comes to this issue, I disagree with some of the things that have been preached by Zakir Naik, and unfortunately this was not mentioned by those who accused me, even though this part is in my (previous media) statement.

“(I support Zakir’s freedom of speech) as long as he does not commit any offence or commit any crimes. If he incites hatred and whatnot, I will not condone it. The same applies to all other preachers,” Maszlee told Malaysiakini in an exclusive interview last night.

In a joint op-ed in 2016, Maszlee had clarified that he does not subscribe to Zakir’s (photo) “dialectical and combative” approach to preaching.

‘Being religious is not a crime’

Maszlee also responded to those who have criticised him for his religious credentials and disputed his suitability as education minister in a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country.

A petition calling for Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to take on the role of education minister, as initially announced, has garnered over 80,000 signatures.

“Being religious is not a crime, you can’t punish people for being religious or for not being religious.

“For those who have been spreading lies about me, I respect their right to say whatever they want to but it must come with responsibility. They must also try to respect not only me but the choice of others to be religious or not to be religious.

“(What they have said about me) sounds very Islamophobic. I am very against phobia against Christians, Buddhists, Chinese and Malays, the same way that I am also against Islamophobia," he said. 

“Judge me based on my achievements, what I have done and my contribution to society, rather than lies that have been spread by a small group of people who live with prejudice towards others,” he added. 

A scholar in Islamic jurisprudence and its principles (Fiqh and Usul al-Fiqh), Maszlee obtained his Bachelor’s degree in this field from the University Al al-Bayt in Jordan, and later his Masters, from Universiti Malaya.

In 2011, he obtained his PhD in Good Governance from the University of Durham in the UK.

An academician by profession, he was formerly attached with the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) and various think-tanks like Ideas, Penang Institute and the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (Iseas) before joining partisan politics.

“I don’t think that the Singaporean government will allow an ‘extremist’ or whatever accusations that have been made against me, to be there (in Iseas), as one of their fellows,” the Bersatu politician quipped.

Other academicians have since come forth to support Maszlee, as have DAP heavyweights like Iskandar Puteri MP Lim Kit Siang and Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming.

"The task facing Dr Maszlee is immense.

“Let's help him by giving him suggestions on how we can improve our education system, rather than judging him based on a superficial reading of who he is and what he represents,” Ong had said.

This interview was jointly conducted by NORMAN GOH, LU WEI HOONG and ANNABELLE LEE.