G25: Why was Zakir Naik given a Malaysian PR

PETALING JAYA: G25, the group of eminent Malays, has questioned the Home Ministry over the granting of permanent residence (PR) status on controversial preacher Zakir Naik.

In a statement on Monday, the group said the ministry should explain why Zakir was given a PR.

"It is disturbing to know that he was able to obtain a PR from the Home Ministry without the public knowing whether he has met the strict criteria and qualifications for eligibility applicable to others," said G25.

The group added that "the hundreds of thousands of stateless children in Malaysia certainly deserve to know."

G25 said that if an exemption was granted to Zakir, the justification for the exemption should be made public.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had confirmed in April that Zakir had been given a Malaysian PR.

G25 said the Malaysian authorities should not be seen as championing an individual with such a reputation.

"He has often created anger among Muslims and non-Muslims by his frequent mocking of other religious doctrines and practices," said the group.

“We believe in free speech but when it is allowed in favour of a certain person and denied to others who have different views, that is not a healthy kind of freedom for our multi-cultural society," it added.

G25 pointed out that Zakir has been banned from entering the United Kingdom, Canada, Singapore, India and Pakistan.

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"Should Malaysia be called upon to cooperate in the fight against dangerous religious extremists, we strongly encourage our government to do so," it said.

The group added that Malaysian clerics were emboldened by the preacher’s negative remarks on other religions.

"Zakir’s attitude on religion has no place in today’s world and can cause serious social harm in a multi-racial and secular country like Malaysia," it said.