Reuters, Kuala Lumpur :
Malaysian authorities will summon controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik for questioning after he allegedly made racially sensitive remarks in the multi-ethnic nation, the government said on Thursday.
The move comes after several ministers demanded Naik’s expulsion on Wednesday after he said Hindus in Malaysia had “100 times more rights” than the Muslim minority in India.
Zakir Naik, who has lived in Malaysia for about three years and faces charges of money laundering and hate speech in India, has come under fire for comments allegedly pitting the country’s ethnic and religious minorities against the ethnic Malay majority, who are predominantly Muslim.
Police will question Zakir Naik and several other individuals and groups for making “racially-tinged statements” and for spreading false news that has affected public sensitivities, Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said.
“I would like to remind all parties, including non-citizens, that enforcement agencies under my ministry will not think twice to take legal action against anyone who attempts to threaten public harmony and peace,” Muhyiddin said in a statement.
Asked for comment, a representative for Zakir Naik told Reuters he would first need to study the minister’s statement.
Malaysian authorities will summon controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik for questioning after he allegedly made racially sensitive remarks in the multi-ethnic nation, the government said on Thursday.
The move comes after several ministers demanded Naik’s expulsion on Wednesday after he said Hindus in Malaysia had “100 times more rights” than the Muslim minority in India.
Zakir Naik, who has lived in Malaysia for about three years and faces charges of money laundering and hate speech in India, has come under fire for comments allegedly pitting the country’s ethnic and religious minorities against the ethnic Malay majority, who are predominantly Muslim.
Police will question Zakir Naik and several other individuals and groups for making “racially-tinged statements” and for spreading false news that has affected public sensitivities, Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said.
“I would like to remind all parties, including non-citizens, that enforcement agencies under my ministry will not think twice to take legal action against anyone who attempts to threaten public harmony and peace,” Muhyiddin said in a statement.
Asked for comment, a representative for Zakir Naik told Reuters he would first need to study the minister’s statement.
