Kuala Lumpur : Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy has demanded that Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi respond to questions he posed on Indian Muslim televangelist Zakir Naik, whom the activist deemed a national security threat who is “openly promoting terrorism, denigrating and ridiculing members of other faiths”.
“Naik is extremely dangerous to community cohesion, religious tolerance and race-relations. His presence would be undesirable and not conducive to the public good,” said Waythamoorthy in a letter of demand filed through his lawyers.
Zakir delivered a Friday sermon last week on the invitation of the Perlis religious authority.
Zahid’s failure to respond to the issues in a week would result in Waythamoorthy initiating legal action.
The letter of demand, dated yesterday, questioned whether Zakir was granted permanent resident status in Malaysia and the logic of harbouring him in Malaysia even though he is deemed a national security threat in many countries.
Waythamoorthy also questioned whether national security was taken into account before allowing him into the country.
“… whether the government has taken into account national security as the paramount interest in allowing Naik to roam free in Malaysia and if the answer is yes what were the grounds taken into consideration?”
He also questioned Zahid on the inaction of Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar to respond on the status of investigation in a letter dated April 14, 2016 despite numerous police reports lodged against Zakir.
Waythamoorthy also reminded Zahid that Zakir is wanted in India “allegedly for terrorism and money laundering linked activities and there is a ban on his Islamic Research Foundation by the Indian Government in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967”.
He also asked whether Zahid is aware that India found that Zakir had delivered subversive and objectionable speeches.
Lastly, he questioned whether Zahid knew that Zakir was promoting enmity and hatred between different groups in India while inspiring Muslim youths to commit acts of terror, which is an offence under section 153A of the Indian Penal Code.
Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code refers to hate speech.
Source : Berita Daily
