KUCHING, Aug 15: Controversial preacher Zakir Naik should be deported and expelled from the country for inciting racial and religious tension.
Sarawak United Peoples’s Party (SUPP) president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian has called on Putrajaya to cancel his permanent resident status, which was awarded in 2015.
The state Local Government and Housing Minister said Zakir should not be welcomed in Malaysia for his racially and religiously charged comments.
He added that controversial figures such as Zakir, who can be described as racist and an extremist, would never be welcomed in Sarawak.
“We do not welcome any racist and extremist such as Zakir Naik to Sarawak, as Sarawakians want to to preserve their existing peace and harmony amongst all races.
“Sarawak will never compromise her autonomy on the entry of racists and extremists. Sarawakians should throw their fullest support behind the state government over the preservation of her rights and the protection of their homeland,” Dr Sim said in a statement.
Last week, Zakir called on Malaysian Chinese to “go back” first, describing them as the “old guests” of the country during a religious talk called “Executive Talk bersama Dr Zakir Naik” in Kota Baru, Kelantan, when responding to his calls for his own deportation.
Zakir, an Indian citizen, had also angered Malaysian Hindus when comparing them to the Muslims in India.
He said the Hindus in Malaysia enjoyed more than 100 per cent rights compared to Muslims in India and claimed the former were more loyal to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi than Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
However, Dr Mahathir has admitted that Malaysia was in a Catch-22 situation, as Zakir was “an unwelcome guest Malaysia can’t send away”.
Zakir is wanted in India over corruption charges, money-laundering, as well as terrorism-related charges.
Dr Sim said Sarawakians should be fully aware of the fact that all cases of citizenship problems faced by Sarawakians should naturally be settled by the state government, instead of Putrajaya.
“The reasons are very clear. Only the state government understand the needs of Sarawakians. Furthermore, only the Sarawak government can decide who are qualified to be the citizens of Sarawak,” he continued. — DayakDaily
