Former Bar Council chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan and Lawyers for Liberty executive director Latheefa Koya have trained their guns on the latest allegations against controversial Muslim preacher Zakir Naik.
The pair was responding to a Times of India report, which quoted a source from India's Enforcement Directorate (ED) claiming that Zakir had accumulated assets worth RM113 million by diverting funds and donations received from Islamic countries meant for the welfare of Muslims.
“These charges against Zakir are serious,” Ambiga told Malaysiakini this evening.
“I just cannot understand the government giving someone like this permanent residence when there are so many deserving cases of stateless children born here who cannot even get a birth certificate.
“And why to a foreigner, who knows so little about Malaysian society that he dares to run down other religions, without any regard for the provisions of our Federal Constitution that embodies respect for all faiths.
“There is no doubt that regard must be had to these serious charges,” she added.
Meanwhile, Latheefa, who also described the allegations as serious, urged Putrajaya to respond to the matter.
"Allegations of diverting funds meant for the welfare of Muslims! It is only right that Malaysia responds and not be seen as harbouring this guy,” she tweeted.
According to the Times of India report, Zakir (above) had purportedly used the funds to invest in 20 flats in Mumbai and Pune, which were booked in the names of his wife and son.
Last Friday, the ED, which is probing the controversial Indian-born preacher for alleged money laundering, detained his close aide and jeweller Najmudin Sathak.
Najmudin is accused of assisting Zakir to launder funds of “dubious origins” from Dubai to produce and broadcast videos which allegedly spread “hatred and radicalisation.”
The preacher, who was granted Malaysian permanent resident status by the previous BN administration, has claimed that his reputation was being tarnished by religious bigots in India.
India has requested for Zakir's extradition.
Last year, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the Malaysian government would not bow to external pressure. - Mkini
Mr PM do you expect the same answer from foreign countries when you found Ketuanan Jho Low and ask for his extradiction?
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