Dr M likens Zakir Naik's status to Sirul's extradition request
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has likened the status of controversial Muslim preacher Zakir Naik to Malaysia's request to Australia to extradite Sirul Azhar Umar, who was convicted of murder.
“Before we receive an extradition request (for Zakir from India), we need to know what will happen to the person who is to be extradited...
Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has likened the status of controversial Muslim preacher Zakir Naik to Malaysia's request to Australia to extradite Sirul Azhar Umar, who was convicted of murder.
“Before we accept an extradition request (for Zakir from India), we need to know what will happen to the person who is to be extradited.
“We have a prisoner (Sirul) who fled to Australia. We asked Australia to send him back, but Australia said he would be hanged if sent back. So Australia has disagreed to do so until now.
“So we are also entitled to determine if the person we send back would be given fair justice as well,” he told reporters in Malacca this evening.
Sirul, who is being held at an immigration detention centre in Melbourne, fled Malaysia after the Court of Appeal acquitted him.
However, the Federal Court later overturned the decision and upheld his and Azilah Hadri's conviction and death sentence for the slaying of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.
Mahathir (photo) was commenting on a news report that India's Enforcement Directorate (ED) is set to secure an arrest warrant against Zakir and others in an ongoing trial heard by a special court in Mumbai under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002.
According to the report, the Mumbai court would decide whether a non-bailable warrant of arrest should be issued against Zakir at its next hearing scheduled for June 19.
The ED will then request for an Interpol red notice against the Indian-born preacher, as well as extradition from Malaysia after obtaining a non-bailable warrant from the court.
Zakir, who has claimed that the allegations against him are false, is now a Malaysian permanent resident.
Searching for the reason on deaths in Kuala Koh
Mahathir also commented on the recent deaths at Kuala Koh, Gua Musang, suspected to be due to a disease.
“We are searching for the reason why they passed away in such numbers, maybe it is due to a form of illness.
“But we need to know what type of disease it is which caused their deaths,” he said.
The Orang Asli village in Kuala Koh had reported 14 deaths recently.
The Health Ministry has announced that the village and the patients will be cordoned off to prevent the spread of the respiratory disease that is believed to have killed the villagers.
Early findings from the Health Ministry showed that the Orang Asli from the Bateq tribe were affected by a bacteria, and suffered a secondary viral infection.
However, Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the definitive cause of death has not been identified.
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