Johor PAS leader slams rep for offering to buy plane ticket for Zakir

JOHOR BARU: A Johor PAS leader has slammed Stulang assemblyman Andrew Chen Kah Eng (pic, left) over his offer to buy a one-way plane ticket to India for controversial preacher Zakir Naik (pic, right).

Johor Baru PAS deputy chief Ahamd Al Joharo Mohd Yusof said the remarks made by the state DAP assemblyman were “arrogant” and “seditious”.

“His claim that Zakir is stirring racial harmony is baseless.

“The Pakatan Harapan government and its allies are the ones causing tension among the public with issues such as the learning of khat writing and insult against the Armed Forces, ” he said in a statement on Friday (Aug 16).

He added Chen should respect and support the decision by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to protect and allow Zakir to remain in Malaysia.

“Chen should focus on his role as an assemblyman and help the people in dealing with issues that include the Kim Teng Park land acquisition, which has yet to be solved, ” he said.

It was reported that Chen had offered to buy Zakir a one-way ticket to India, claiming that the preacher was trying to ruin the harmony among Malaysians.

The Johor DAP deputy publicity secretary added that Zakir should not be treated as a guest in this country.

“Zakir is not a Malaysian and he is definitely not welcomed by Malaysians, so kindly leave our country and go back to India, ” he said.

Last week, Zakir allegedly called on Malaysian Chinese to “go back” first as they were the “old guests” of the country during a religious talk in Kota Baru, Kelantan in response to calls for his deportation.

Zakir 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 situation as Zakir was “an unwelcome guest Malaysia can’t send away”.