Zakir Naik student says will surrender Malaysian IC if preacher extradited

Preacher Muhammad Zamri Vinoth Kalimuthu today said he would be willing to surrender his Malaysian identity card if the government moved to extradite Zakir Naik to India.

Speaking as a special guest at the 60th PAS Youth Muktamar (above) today, Zamri said he felt saddened to see how Islam has allegedly been attacked in Malaysia, including in Parliament.

"If the government wants to send back Zakir Naik, I am willing to hand over my IC. I am not willing to continue living in Malaysia," said Zamri who is a student of Zakir.

On June 10, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Malaysia needed to know what will happen to Zakir upon his extradition to India, as he likened the situation to Malaysia's request for Australia to extradite Sirul Azhar Umar, who was convicted of the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Mahathir was commenting on a news report that India's Enforcement Directorate (ED) was set to secure an arrest warrant against Zakir and others in an ongoing trial heard by a special court in Mumbai under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002.

Zamri further urged PAS leaders to set aside their political or ideological differences and unite for a common goal when faced with alleged attacks against their religion.

In this case, Zamri said PAS delegates should learn from and emulate the Chinese community which he said that despite being divided by DAP and MCA political ideologies, came together on common issues affecting their race.

"All of must unite, we need to find similarities among us. We may come from different backgrounds but religion should unite us because we have the same struggle," he said.

"I urge the delegates to emulate the Chinese when it comes to unity. We see they have DAP, MCA, but when there are issues on their language or race, they will unite despite their political differences," he said.

Zamri also delivered a greeting from Zakir Naik which elicited cheers from the 721 delegates from 169 PAS divisions gathered (above) at the Bukit Gambang Resort in Kuantan.

On April 28, Perlis police had arrested Zamri for allegedly insulting Hinduism, this after 13 police reports were lodged over his sermon which went viral on social media.

Perlis Mufti Mohamad Asri Zainul Abidin had questioned Zamri's arrest and the 35-year-old preacher himself denied committing any offence. He was released after a four-day remand. -Mkini