Here is Ambassador Dennis Ignatius on the Zakir Naik problem. Yes it is a problem. This is taken from FMT. I have NOT edited the text. Only some new paragraphing and bullet points.
My comments are in blue and also at the end.
What’s so special about Zakir Naik?
July 12, 2018
Putrajaya must explain why it refuses to extradite the Indian cleric and why he deserves to remain in Malaysia.
COMMENT
By Dennis Ignatius
What’s so special about Zakir Naik? Why is he so uniquely deserving of Putrajaya’s support and attention?
These are among the many questions that Malaysians are asking in the wake of the government’s decision to allow him to stay; so far no satisfactory answers have been forthcoming.
(OSTB : It is causing stresses also among the non Muslim citizens and the non Muslim coalition partners in PH. Is it really worth it?)
Well-deserved reputation
Any which way you look at it, Naik is a highly polarising demagogue.
Considered one of the most influential Wahhabi ideologues in the world, he aggressively propagates a version of Islam that even Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Salman says is in need of reform, and which, incidentally, the National Fatwa Council (NFC) of Malaysia declared “has no place in Malaysia”.
Countries as diverse as Canada, India, the UK and Bangladesh consider him an extremist who seems to endorse terrorism.
Some countries have denied him entry as well.
- Bangladesh alleges that he inspired a terrorist attack in Dhaka in 2016 which left 22 dead.
- India’s National Investigation Agency is also investigating his foundation for alleged money laundering.
While he consistently denies these allegations and claims that he has been misunderstood or taken out of context, it’s hard not to conclude from even a cursory viewing of his many YouTube offerings that his reputation for extremism is well-deserved.
Dishonest and deceitful
Now that he is in the dock of public opinion, and desperate for refuge in Malaysia, he is attempting an image makeover, claiming that his “primary concern” has always been “to foster social harmony”.
He is, of course, being utterly dishonest given that he has a long history of being extremely intolerant, insulting and demeaning of other faiths.
- And when cornered by his own remarks,
- he immediately cries that he is but a victim
- of some vague conspiracy against Islam,
- part of a “broader objective of demonising Islam and Muslims”,
- never mind that it is his own hate-filled invective
- that does more to demonise Islam that anything else.
Skilfully exploiting our divisions
While many of us might shudder at the thought of someone like Naik being turned loose in a country like ours which is struggling to contain religious and racial extremism, he has apparently no shortage of supporters.
With the Wahhabi narrative already well-established in the corridors of power, the NFC’s opinion notwithstanding, he is of course a perfect fit.
His choice of abode – in Putrajaya – is itself very telling.
He also seems to have adroitly exploited Malaysia’s political, racial and religious divisions to his advantage, endearing himself to many in Umno and PAS by his endorsement of both Islamic and Malay supremacism.
And they, in turn, have showered him with a level of praise, privilege and protection that he never found anywhere else. No surprise then that he loves it here.
Legal obligations
The Indian government is now apparently seeking to extradite Naik (who remains an Indian citizen) to face money laundering and terrorism-related charges.
Ultimately, extradition is a legal matter subject to treaty obligations which the courts must decide upon.
The government must take a principled stand and affirm that it will respect its legal obligations.
To do otherwise, to insist that Naik be treated differently from others in similar situations, would undermine the government’s own oft-repeated commitment to the rule of law.
Does Naik deserve to be here? (OSTB : NO. We do not need this retard here.)
Beyond the issue of extradition, however, is the larger question of whether or not he deserves to be a Malaysian permanent resident.
A strong argument can be made that extremists like Naik do not deserve residency status in our country.
His values, his actions and his worldview stand in sharp contrast to the kind of tolerant, respectful and inclusive nation we are trying to build.
He has nothing to contribute to making our nation a strong, united and prosperous one. He is but an intolerant religious bully who does not deserve our respect let alone our protection.
And don’t forget that this is also the same opportunist who, convinced that Umno would rule forever, insisted at a seminar last year that Muslims ought to vote for a Muslim leader who might be corrupt (read Najib) rather than a Muslim leader who depends on non-Muslim support (read Mahathir).
Of course, once Najib lost power, he immediately ingratiated himself with Putrajaya’s new leaders and now sings their praises. And this is the man that some in Pakatan Harapan are now defending.
Naik doesn’t belong here. If he doesn’t have the courage to return home to India to answer the charges against him, let him find sanctuary in Saudi Arabia; after all, he is a great admirer of the Wahhabi clerics who hold sway there.
Government owes us an explanation
In the interest of transparency, the government has an obligation to explain why it refuses to extradite him and why he deserves to remain in Malaysia.
As well, the government needs to clarify whether it is paying for Naik’s ever-present security detail, whether he is receiving financial support of any kind from the public purse, and whether he is being considered for Malaysian citizenship now that India has withdrawn his passport.
Whatever it is, the government should not underestimate how deeply offended many Malaysians are with Naik and how deeply disappointed they are by the inexplicable and shocking decision to continue offering him sanctuary here.
Dennis Ignatius is a former ambassador.
My comments : I am offended as well. Why do we allow such a divisive figure and a criminal element to be present here.
Bear in mind that the Indian government is investigating Zakir Naik on money laundering charges. NOT RELIGIOUS EXTREMISM OR TERRORIST ACTIVITIES. It is MONEY LAUNDERING. The Indian government wants to resolve how Zakir Naik owns 37 properties in India.
The investigation by the Indian government is where Zakir Naik got the money to buy all these 37 properties?
They are investigating him on suspicion of Money Laundering.
Why are we protecting a MONEY LAUNDERING suspect from facing an investigation in the country where he is suspected of commiting this crime?
At the same time we are trying to extradite Jolo.
We are also trying to get Najib for his crimes.
Money laundering is definitely involved.
The Swiss AG came to KL to visit our AG Tommy Thomas also in relation to MONEY LAUNDERING of stolen 1MDB money.
The US DOJ is also investigating 1MDB under their AMLA (Anti Money Laundering Act).
Switzerland now wants to return to us all the money (about RM430 million) they have confiscated from the MONEY LAUNDERING cases involving 1MDB stolen money.
The US DOJ will also ultimately return to us the over US$3 BILLION (RM12 BILLION) of laundered money they have confiscated arising from the 1MDB investigation.
We should be thankful to BOTH Switzerland and the US when they return these funds back to the Malaysian people.
So if we expect other countries to help us resolve our MONEY LAUNDERING cases, why are we putting up obstacles in the way of the Indian government resolving their MONEY LAUNDERING cases involving Zakir Naik?
Just because Zakir is a Muslim, our supporters are Muslim and the Indian government is led bu Hindu kafirs? Like it or not that is how it comes across.
We are not showing good neighborliness.
My suggestion is this. Quietly put Zakir Naik on a plane out of the country. He has PR or Permanent Residency in another country - Saudi Arabia. Just send him off to Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia is much better suited for Zakir Naik than Malaysia.
Saudi is the home of Mecca and Medina - the two holiest places in the religion.
Saudi is ruled by a Wahhabi governement - the same ideology that Zakir shares.
Saudi is a 100% theocracy, they chop heads and chop hands on Friday.
Much better than Malaysia.
All the women must wear burka in Saudi. Much better than Malaysia.
There is no gambling, alchohol, under dressed women in Saudi. Much better than Malaysia.
Why would Zakir Naik NOT PREFER such a wonderful, 100% Islamic country like Saudi Arabia compared to Malaysia where there is a huge kafir population, women expose their aurat, there are absolutely no holy places here, there is no public head chopping on Friday, there is gambling, alchohol and under dressed women all over the place?
My simple suggestion is send Zakir Naik to 100% islamic Saudi Arabia where he also has PR. PROBLEM SOLVED. He has PR in more than one country.
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