Former minister Rafidah Aziz is disappointed that Malaysians are at loggerheads with one another over a foreigner.

With the world heading towards a possible recession, she said, Malaysians must be united in facing the possible challenges.

“I only want to ask - why are Malaysians going against each other on account of some foreigner who is being sought after by his own country?” she asked.

Rafidah was responding to the controversy involving Indian-born preacher Dr Zakir Naik (below) and the call from several ministers for him to be deported following his speech during an event in Kelantan last week.

The former minister said Malaysians have their own issues to contend with, which have direct relevance to the future of the nation and younger generation.

“Why are some of us still so vulnerable to have our minds being subverted in so many ways, seemingly in the name of religion?

“We must not allow extraneous, irrelevant matters to cloud our minds and divert our attention from the real issues at hand,” she added in a text message to Malaysiakini this afternoon.

Rafidah also pointed out there are laws which can be resorted to and the country of origin should prevail in this context.

She reminded that Malaysia is also seeking the return of certain fugitives to bring them to justice.

“I urge Malaysians not to allow extraneous matters to cause fractiousness amongst us and no one should try to make political capital out of such an issue,” she added.

Indian authorities have requested Putrajaya extradite Zakir to face alleged money laundering charges.

The preacher has maintained that the charges are false, citing Interpol's repeated refusal to grant a Red Notice as proof of this.

Previously, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Zakir, who is a Malaysian permanent resident, would not be deported as there are concerns he might not be accorded a fair trial.

During his speech in Kelantan, the preacher courted flak for questioning the loyalty of Hindu Malaysians and suggesting that Chinese Malaysians are "old guests" in the country.

Zakir has claimed he was misquoted over the Hindu Malaysian comment, but has yet to explain his remarks on the local Chinese.

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