KUCHING, Aug 15: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sarawak wants controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik to leave Malaysia now.
Its information chief, Desmond Kho, emphasised that the continued presence of Zakir presented a danger to this harmonious country; hence, it is time for him to leave.
“We, Malaysians, are known to be mild, accommodative and even downright polite in the most extreme of cases,” according to Kho in a press release today.
“But in the matter of Zakir Naik, enough is enough. In the face of international scorn, we have accorded him safe haven lest he face persecution in his own country. Among others, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has cited humanitarian grounds that the racist preacher has ‘nowhere to go’.”
However, Kho said Zakir appeared to have mistaken Malaysia’s hospitality for weakness and had unashamedly used religion and taken to the religious pulpit to cast scorn on Malaysians of Hindu and Chinese descent alike.
“All in the space of one week! He has conducted this shameless and nefarious campaign, clearly trying to sow discord and division between Malaysians,” he pointed out.
“So, in spite of our natural hospitable selves, we must say this as clearly and loudly as possible … Zakir, leave! And leave now! ” he exclaimed.
According to Kho, the outsider, who was wanted in his own country for similarly activities, was also known for his brand of religion that alienated non-believers.
“He has gone so far as to say Muslim parents cannot marry their girls to non-Muslims,” he alleged.
“In Malaysia, especially Sarawak, we are proud to celebrate our religious and racial diversity and have existed in harmony with each other since independence.”
He lamented that Zakir’s continued presence threatened the very fabric of society.
“It can only end in tears. Therefore, Mr Zakir, for once do the right thing, Leave! On your own accord with whatever dignity you have left before you are thrown out,” he advised.
Meanwhile, police have today opened an investigation paper following 115 reports lodged against Zakir for the intent to provoke a breach of the peace.
According to The Star Online, Zakir had called on Malaysian Chinese to “go back” first as they were the “old guests” of the country during a religious talk titled ‘Executive Talk bersama Dr Zakir Naik’ in Kota Baru, Kelantan, in response to calls for his own deportation.
Zakir’s speech at the same venue was also condemned by many parties after he compared the Hindus in Malaysia to the Muslims in India, saying that the Hindus here enjoyed more than 100 per cent rights in Malaysia compared to Muslims in India.
He alleged that the Hindus here were more loyal to India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi than to Dr Mahathir.
Zakir, who is an Indian citizen, has stirred controversy in Malaysia with his open evangelism criticising non-Muslims.
He is wanted in India over corruption charges, but certain parties are saying that the charges are trumped-up. — DayakDaily
