‘PR status can be revoked’

SEPANG: The government will wait for the outcome of police investigation into controversial preacher Zakir Naik before deciding on his permanent resident (PR) status, says the Prime Minister.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Zakir’s PR status could be revoked if he is found to be doing things that are detrimental to the well-being of the nation.

“At this moment, the police are investigating whether he is doing that or not.

“If he is found to be doing detrimental things to the country, it will be necessary to take away his permanent resident status, ” said the Prime Minister after visiting AirAsia’s headquarters yesterday.

He added that action would also be taken to prevent Zakir from making provocative speeches, which tend to pit Malaysia’s different races against each other.

Asked if the government would demand that Zakir issue a public apology over his latest statement calling for “old guests” of the country – referring to Malaysian Chinese – to go back to their ancestral land, Dr Mahathir said he believed that 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 has 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 Saturday.

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

Following those numerous police reports, Zakir was interrogated for about seven hours at Bukit Aman yesterday.

It is learnt that he went in to have his statement taken after Friday prayers and left around 8.15pm.

He is believed to have been questioned by the Bukit Aman CID (the D5 Prosecution and Legal) division.

He left in a black Toyota Innova and did not stop to speak to the press gathered there for a statement.

Zakir was granted PR status in 2015.