PKR leaves Zakir Naik’s permanent residency status to authorities

PETALING JAYA: PKR will leave it to the authorities to decide whether or not to revoke the permanent residency status of preacher Dr Zakir Naik, who is currently facing calls for deportation by multiple parties.

PKR organising secretary Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the party respects the decision made by the authorities to ban Zakir from speaking in public events nationwide.

“While we acknowledge the right to preach, but it isn’t right to use a forum to attack any particular race in the country, ” said Nik Nazmi.

The Setiawangsa MP was reading out a statement during a press conference at PKR’s headquarters in Merchant Square, after its political bureau meeting on Wednesday (Aug 21).

“At the same time, PKR is urging all parties to respect the sensitivities of all races. The statement which also insulted the armed forces should not be repeated again.”

On Tuesday, it was reported that all state police chiefs nationwide was ordered not to allow any event involving Dr Zakir.

Dr Zakir is being investigated under Section 504 of the Penal Code for intent to provoke a breach of the peace, which carries two years’ imprisonment or a fine or both upon conviction.

Dr Zakir was probed over his racially charged remarks made during a lecture in Kelantan, which had triggered 115 public complaints.

During the lecture, Dr Zakir, who is a permanent resident in Malaysia, said the Malaysian Chinese should “go back” first as they were the “old guests” of the country.

He also claimed the Hindus in Malaysia were more loyal to the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi than to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He is wanted in India over corruption charges, but he was not deported, with certain parties saying that the charges were trumped up.

Dr Mahathir was since admitted that Malaysia was in a catch-22 situation as Dr Zakir was “an unwelcomed guest Malaysia can’t send away”.