Published 17:55 IST, November 12th 2019
Another flip-flop by Malaysia; Says it won't extradite Zakir Naik
The Malaysian government will very soon write a letter to India officially communicating that Islamic preacher Zakir Naik would not be deported to India.
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Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik will not be extradited to India. The Malaysian government will very soon write a letter to the government of India outlining the reasons behind their decision. Malaysia's Minister of Foreign Affairs has said that he has informed his Indian counterpart regarding their decision. However, an official letter is yet to be sent. Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, Malaysia's Minister of Foreign Affairs has said that in a meeting with his Indian counterpart, he informed the minister regarding the Malaysian government's decision to not send Zakir Naik to India. The Malaysian minister claimed that India's Minister of Foreign Affairs S Jaishankar had raised the issue of Naik during their meeting in Bangkok in which India had asked for a letter from the Malaysian government on the issue.
Malaysian government to send a letter
During their meeting at the 35th Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN), the two leaders discussed many other issues including the deportation of Zakir Naik. The Malaysian government will be sending a letter explaining the reasons behind not sending Naik back to his country of origin. Attorney-General Tommy Thomas is currently working on the content of the letter, said the Malaysian Minister.
Malaysia's changing stance on Zakir Naik
The issue of Zakir Naik has seen many twists and turns with a level of ambiguity regarding the Malaysian government's view of the preacher. Let us do a recap of what has happened so far in Malaysia. The Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dr. Mahathir Bin Mohamad, had supported Zakir's stay in Malaysia fearing of “unfair trial in India” but later slammed him for his comments on the Hindus and Chinese community. Then, he had dropped a hint at the possibility of rescinding Naik's residence permit but later said that no country was willing to accept Zakir Naik. Several ministers and Members of Parliament including Penang Deputy Chief Minister P Ramasamy, Charles Santiago, MP, Klang, Syed Saddiq, the Sports Minister, had raised their concerns regarding the presence of Zakir Naik in Malaysia. They spoke openly about the potential consequences of Naik's speeches and demanded the televangelist's deportation. But later Malaysia's Minister of Youth and Sports Syed Saddiq, in a u-turn, hosted the Islamic preacher and appealed people to forgive him.
PM Modi had discussed Naik's deportation
Earlier, India's Ministry of External Affairs had said that during a meeting with his Malaysian counterpart in Russia, Prime Minister Modi had discussed Naik's deportation but the Malaysian government denied any such conversation. Mr. Naik who was being investigated in Malaysia for alleged hate speech will not be handed over to India is what we know so far. Is that the final version of the Malaysian government? This is yet to be known.
17:12 IST, November 12th 2019