Zakir's PR status to be decided after police probe, says Dr M

SEPANG: The government will wait for the outcome of police investigation against controversial preacher Zakir Naik before deciding on his permanent resident status, says Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The Prime Minister said his PR status could be revoked should he be found to be doing things that were detrimental to the wellbeing of the nation.

"At this moment, the police are investigating whether he (Zakir) is doing that or not.

"If he is found to be doing detrimental things to the county, it will be necessary to take away his permanent resident status," said the Prime Minister after visiting AirAsia's headquarters on Friday (Aug 16).

Dr Mahathir said action would also be taken to prevent Zakir from making provocative speeches that pitted different races against each other.

Asked if the government would demand that Zakir issue a public apology over his statement calling for the "old guests" of the country to go back to their ancestral land, Dr Mahathir said he believed this would not assuage the people's anger.

"For now, we leave it to the police to investigate the seriousness of the statements that he made, " he said.

Bukit Aman is investigating Zakir under Section 504 of the Penal Code for intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of the peace after getting 115 public complaints over his latest remarks during a lecture in Kota Baru, Kelantan last week.

He was reported to have claimed that Malaysian Indians were more loyal to the Narendra Modi government.

He was also reported to have called Chinese Malaysians “old guests” who should go back to their ancestral land before he be made to leave the country.

Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had issued a warning that action would be taken against anyone who disrupts Malaysia’s harmony and public order, whether they were citizens or not.

Zakir was granted Malaysian PR in 2015.