Sabah will ban Zakir Naik from entering the state if there is evidence of religious extremism, says CM

PAPAR (Bernama): The Sabah government will not hesitate to ban controversial preacher Zakir Naik from entering the state if there are reports of the preacher having extremist religious views.

However, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said that he has yet to receive any report from the state religious department in regard to the matter.

"If there are reports and clear evidence, we won’t hesitate to ban (Zakir).

"This is the state government’s jurisdiction but such a report hasn’t come to my knowledge yet, ” he said when met after receiving Parti Warisan membership forms from 3, 000 former Umno members in Kampung Biau here Thursday (Aug 15).

On Aug 3, Zakir was reported to have made a controversial remark, claiming that Malaysian Hindus were more loyal to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi than Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Zakir, an Indian national wanted by his government over investigations on alleged money laundering, was also reported of making a statement against the Chinese community in Malaysia as a response to the calls for his deportation from the country. - Bernama