Penang PKR rep wants Zakir to apologise but not deported

GEORGE TOWN: A state PKR leader has urged Zakir Naik to apologise for his racially and religiously charged statements but urges Malaysians to accept the controversial preacher.

PKR's Seberang Jaya assemblyman Dr Afif Bahardin said remarks made by Zakir, who is currently sheltering in Malaysia, were hurtful and have tainted the harmony of the various communities in the country.

“What he (Zakir) has said goes beyond the manners and ethics of a man who is currently seeking protection in our country.

“I urge him to immediately apologise to Malaysians and to stop any activity that could invite polemics and disrupt harmony in Malaysian society.

“This demand is necessary to ease the pressure and dissatisfaction among many Malaysians who are hurt by his remarks, ” Dr Afif said in a statement Thursday (Aug 15).

Dr Afif, who is also the Penang Agriculture and Agro-Based Industries committee chairman, said as a self-proclaimed scholar and man of religion, Zakir should realise that propagation should be a platform of peace and order, not a medium to create hate and chaos.

“As a ‘guest’ in this country, he should show respect and understand ethical manners in a multiracial community, ” he said.

Dr Afif, however, said he still supported the stand not to extradite Zakir to India.

“The stand taken by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed and the government to refuse to extradite Zakir to India should be accepted by every Malaysian.

“As long as there is no security guarantee and fair trial for him from the Indian government, it is certainly a difficult decision we must make.

“The middle path taken by the Prime Minister is currently the best approach now, ” he said.

Recently, Zakir – at a religious talk called “Executive Talk bersama Dr Zakir Naik” in Kota Baru, Kelantan – called on Chinese Malaysians to “go back” first as they were “old guests” of the country.

He was responding to calls for his own deportation.

Zakir was also chastised by many parties after he compared the Hindus in Malaysia to the Muslims in India, saying that the Hindus in Malaysia enjoyed more than 100% rights compared to Muslims in India.

He alleged that the Hindus here were more loyal to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi than Malaysia’s own premier.

Zakir, an Indian citizen, has stirred controversy in Malaysia with his brand of fundamental evangelism that criticises other religions.

He is wanted in India over corruption charges but has not been deported as certain parties here believe the charges were trumped up.

Dr Mahathir has since admitted that Malaysia is in a Catch-22 as Zakir was “an unwelcome guest Malaysia can’t send away”.