By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Aug 15: Muara Tuang assemblyman Datuk Idris Buang confirmed that controversial Indian Muslim preacher Zakir Naik is still banned from entering Sarawak.
He said the ban has been in effect since the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem’s time as Chief Minister and should still be effective until today.
“He (Zakir) has been banned from coming into Sarawak since Tok Nan’s time. I believe he is still blacklisted,” Idris told Dayakdaily.
Idris who is also Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) information chief also called on Zakir to apologise for stating that Malaysian Indians are more loyal to India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi than to Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
As a Muslim, Idris said he has the greatest respect and admiration for Islamic teachings of high level of scholarship shown by Ustaz Zakir Naik.
“However with regards to his rather extraneous but unwelcome ‘political’ comment which hurts other communities, during his Kelantan tour recently, I humbly think it was a mistake on his part.
“He should not have crossed that political line knowing very well the sensitivities such a statement could attract and the tendency that it may be hyped even further to cause unnecessary discord.
“Such statements could easily be misconstrued and misunderstood with negative results.
“I do hope that he could kindly apologise to all the communities concerned as this is what is being taught in Islam itself, as Islam is actually about the propagation of peace, not only in this world but the hereafter too,” said Idris.
Describing Zakir’s statement as a political “transgression”, Idris said despite his respect for Zakir’s Islamic teachings, he believed that such views would not be acceptable for multicultural and multi religious Sarawak.
“As a Muslim, I don’t agree with his kind of remarks,” said Idris. — DayakDaily
