Zakir Naik told not to raise racial issues but many do it - PM
Controversial preacher Zakir Naik was told not to provoke racial sentiment in Malaysia, said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
"In the case of Zakir Naik, who is here, he has been told not to provoke racial sentiments," he told a press conference after the closing of the Kuala Lumpur Summit 2019 today.
Mahathir then pointed out that many people raised racial issues too...
Controversial preacher Zakir Naik was told not to provoke racial sentiments in Malaysia, said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
"In the case of Zakir Naik, who is here, he has been told not to provoke racial sentiments," he told a press conference after the closing of the Kuala Lumpur Summit 2019 today.
Mahathir then pointed out that many people raised racial issues too.
"He is here, yes, but then we also have a lot of other racial statements being made by a lot of other people," he said.
"And we have to ask people not to make comments about race relations in Malaysia because this is a sensitive issue and we don’t want to provoke and antagonise the citizens and races in this country," he said.
He was asked to respond to renewed calls from DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang for the government to revoke Zakir’s permanent residence status after an old tweet attributed to the preacher reemerged recently.
A tweet advising Muslims that it was a “sin” to wish Christians a “Merry Christmas” had reemerged.
Yesterday, Zakir told Malaysiakini that he didn’t have a Twitter account.
Mahathir, however, did not answer whether the government would revoke Zakir’s permanent residence.
Zakir, who attended the summit over the past three days, was also present at Mahathir’s press conference.
He was seen smiling while his associate took a recording of the press conference.
Zakir obtained his permanent resident status in Malaysia in April 2016 during the BN administration.
The authorities in his home country of India have requested his extradition to face charges related to alleged money-laundering and terrorism.
However, the preacher claims that the charges are fabricated.
Putrajaya has refused to deport him saying there were concerns about whether he would receive a fair trial.
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