Is Tun M trying to placate lost Malay votes by allowing suspected terrorist Dr Zakir to stay?

It defies logic that Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad is showing his third finger salute to international conventions by refusing to deport Dr Zakir Naik, and now even accepting a courtesy call by the latter for a photo ops, despite a formal extradition request from India for suspected terrorist activities and money laundering, coupled with Dr Zakir’s Indian passport having been cancelled.   

Is Dr Mahathir taking the votes of non-Muslims for granted? Or is due to his fear of losing more Malay-Muslim votes that Malaysia’s oldest Prime Minister refuses to respect India’s extradition request?

Why should Malaysia be identified as a destination that shelters suspected terrorists, in this case, Dr Zakir who in the past has defended suicide bombers and spewed incendiary remarks against Christians? Consider this:

• A YouTube video of his  speech in Terengganu shows he repeatedly forbade Malaysian Muslims from wishing Merry Christmas to Christians.
• A YouTube video of 2007 shows him declaring, “If he (Osama bin Laden) is fighting the enemies of Islam, I am for him … If he is terrorising America the terrorist, the biggest terrorist, I am with him. Every Muslim should be a terrorist.”
• Dr Zakir’s sermons are prohibited in Canada and the United KingdomIn 2011, Britain's High Court banned Dr Zakir from the UK for his incendiary statements aimed at Jews and his assertion that Osama bin Laden was 'not a terrorist'. The British court also found his speeches were among material shared by the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks.
• India and Muslim-majority Bangladesh have yanked his Peace TV channel off the airwaves in 2012 and 2016 respectively for inciting religious intolerance and inciting terrorism.
• In fact, Dr Zaik’s Peace TV has been linked to the terrorist strikes at an upscale cafe in Dhaka on 1 July 2016 which left 22 people dead. Bangladeshi authorities have said that one of the gunmen drew inspiration from Dr Zakir’s Peace TV.
• India's broadcasting ministry has vowed action against so-called unauthorised channels which air it.
• India’s National Investigation Agency has moved Interpol for issuance of a Red Corner Notice.
• India’s Home Ministry in November 2016 had outlawed an NGO founded by him ie Islamic Research Foundation under the nation’s anti-terror law ie Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act  for five years for IRC’s alleged terror activities.

Allowed to fully preach as he pleases, Dr Zakir’s rhetoric can inflame the masses and may lead to other terrorist assaults in Malaysia as witnessed in Mumbai and Dhaka. Dr Zakir’s presence in Malaysia is a source of discomfort among multiracial Malaysians. As Malaysians proudly voted for Pakatan Harapan as Malaysian citizens rather than along racial lines, Dr Mahathir must heed public opinion that this tele-evangelist is a divisive figure who is unhealthy for multiracial Malaysia. On the contrary, our Premier who currently enjoys multiracial rapport, should not take such support for granted, and instead support Bukit Aman counter-terrorism move.

However, it is befuddling considering Human Resource Miniter Kulasegaran’s tweet in the Malay language that “DAP accepts the decision by the Prime Minister to not deport Zakir Naik.” Why does DAP accept a wanted suspected terrorist and money launderer in our midst when national security should take priority over popularity?

Dato’ Ng Chok Sin
MCA Religious Harmony Bureau Deputy Chairman
MCA Selangor State Liaison Committee Secretary

-MCA online-