Dr. Zakir Naik has been banned from holding religious talks in Melaka, said the Malaysian state’s Chief Minister Adly Zahari, the Star reported on Monday (Aug 19).
The decision to barred Dr. Naik from speaking in public was taken by the state government so as to avoids any issues that could strain race relationships.
“We want to maintain this. So we decided not to allow Dr. Naik to hold talks or gatherings here,” he was quoted as saying.
-Racial Politics-
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Sunday said it was “quite clear” Dr. Naik wanted to participate in racial politics, the New Straits Times reported.
“He is stirring up racial feelings. The police will have to investigate whether it is causing tension; obviously, it is,” he said.
As a permanent resident, Dr Mahathir said that Dr. Naik was not allowed to participate in politics.
“You can preach (religiously). But he wasn’t doing that,” he said.
“He was talking about Chinese going back to China and Indians going back to India. I have never said such things. But he did. That is politics.”
-Provoke Peace Breach-
It was reported that during his ceramah in Kota Baru last Thursday, Dr. Naik intent to provoke a peace breach while making alleged and sensitive remarks on the Hindus and Chinese residing in the Muslim-majority nation.
Dr. Naik had earlier also allegedly compared Hindus in Malaysia to Muslims in India saying that the Hindus are more loyal to PM Modi than Mahathir Mohamad and enjoy “100 times more rights” than Muslims in India.
Dr. Naik, who was granted permanent residency in Malaysia by the previous government, has been living in the country for the last three years.
–Facing Charges–
He is facing charges of inciting communal disharmony and committing unlawful activities in India. He is also facing probe both in India and Bangladesh in connection with the terror attack at the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka on July 2016.
Muslims make up about 60 per cent of its 32 million people. The rest are mostly ethnic Chinese and Indians, most of whom are Hindus.