Saifuddin: India's extradition request for Zakir Naik received

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): Malaysia has received an application from India for the extradition of preacher Zakir Naik (pic), Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said on Friday (June 28).

However, he said the government was maintaining its stand not to send Zakir back to his home country.

"We have received the note (on the extradition application) from the Indian government. I don't remember when, but we have received it.

"For now, we do not have any new decision, we still hold to our original decision," he said when asked about the statement by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that Malaysia would not extradite Zakir.

Saifuddin spoke to reporters after launching the book "Bantuan Demokrasi dan Pendanaan Asing: Melewati Pertukaran Rejim" written by Muhammad Takiyuddin Ismail and published by the University of Malaya Press here.

Malaysia has stated that it has the right to decide whether to extradite Zakir following the Indian government's insistence on wanting him sent back over alleged money laundering accusations. –Bernama