Zakir's PR status hinges on findings of police probe - PM

Putrajaya will revoke the permanent resident status of Zakir Naik if the preacher is found to have harmed the country's unity, said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"We can take away his permanent residence status if he does something which is detrimental to the wellbeing of this nation," he told a press conference in KLIA this evening.

"At this moment, the police are investigating (whether) he has done something wrong or not.

"Of course, if he had done so, it is necessary for us to take away his permanent residence status," he added.

Mahathir said the government also needs to take action to prevent Zakir from continuing to make such provocative speeches, which could pit different races against each other.

Mahathir brushed off a question for him to demand an apology from Zakir on behalf of Malaysians.

"I don't think this is going to assuage the anger of many people," he said.

"So, at this moment, we leave it to the polis to investigate the seriousness of the statements that he has made," added Mahathir.

Zakir recently stirred controversy when he claimed th+at Hindu Malaysians seemed to trust the Indian government more than their own, while also stating that Chinese Malaysians should be asked to "go back" too if he is asked to leave the country.

The preacher later said he had been misquoted and his remarks about Chinese Malaysians being "old guests" were taken out of context. 

Yesterday, Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the police would summon the Indian-born preacher to give his statement.

Zakir was granted permanent residency in 2015.