Zakir Naik leads prayers in Malacca, no speeches
Muslim preacher Dr Zakir Naik, in light of several directives barring him from public speaking, made no speeches at a prayer session in Krubong tonight.
Zakir arrived at the Masjid Cina mosque at about 7.20pm together with Malacca exco member Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen, and was immediately mobbed by congregants...
Muslim preacher Dr Zakir Naik, in light of several directives barring him from public speaking, made no speeches at a prayer session in Krubong tonight.
Zakir arrived at the Masjid Cina mosque at about 7.20pm together with Malacca exco member Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen, and was immediately mobbed by congregants.
Shortly after his arrival, the Indian-born preacher led the over 2,000-strong congregation to perform the Maghrib and later Isya prayers.
In between, Malacca mufti Abdul Halim Tawil led recitals of the Yasin and tahlil (supplications for the deceased).
Things got a little tense after the event ended, however, as the crowd jostled to get closer to Zakir, causing several people to fall. Nevertheless, the situation was quickly brought under control.
Among the political leaders spotted at tonight's event were Umno assemblypersons Zaidi Attan and Roslan Ahmad, as well as Malacca PAS chief Kamaruddin Sidek.
'Communications weaknesses'
Speaking to reporters after the event, Rafiq said he hoped the attendance of PAS and Umno leaders would not be politicised.
Rafiq (photo), who had organised the event in his capacity as the Masjid Cina chairperson, also sought to assuage concerns among non-Muslims over Zakir.
"Maybe he had some communication weaknesses before. But he has apologised to all Malaysians.
"I hope we can all be united. If we are strong, we will respect (one another).
"To non-Muslim friends, don't feel threatened by Muslim unity. It will not affect the national unity that we want to achieve with all races," the Bersatu supreme council member said.
Fellow Malacca exco member Kerk Chee Yee had previously objected to the event, saying that even if Zakir did not speak, his presence would still be in apparent defiance of Chief Minister Adly Zahari order against the preacher speaking.
Police had previously banned Zakir from speaking in public in the country.
Rafiq said Adly had no objections to Zakir attending a prayer event, adding the police and Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin also did not object.
Zakir (photo) caused a stir after a speech in Kelantan in which he suggested that Indian Malaysians were more loyal to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi than Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
In the same speech, he also referred to Chinese Malaysians as "old guests."
He has since apologised, but claimed his remarks were taken out of context.
Police are investigating his remarks and awaiting instructions from the Attorney-General's Chambers on whether he will be prosecuted.
Meanwhile, a meeting Zakir was supposed to have tonight with former Malacca chief minister Idris Haron tonight was cancelled.
Rafiq said this was on advice from the police due to safety reasons in view of the crowd numbers.
Idris had reportedly invited the preacher to a private meeting, but a poster promoting it as a public event was later circulated on social media.
Rafiq said he had communicated with Idris and assured him there was no political element behind the cancellation.
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