Dr M, what's so special about Zakir Naik?

One thing is clear. The more vociferous civil society and others go against controversial preacher Zakir Naik, the fiercer Dr Mahathir Mohamad emerges to defend him.

I have one question for the prime minister. Tell us, what is so special about Zakir Naik? There must be something unique about him, some unknown qualities lacking in our local preachers that Zakir possesses, so much so that our prime minister sees it fit to be on his side all the time.

It seems that none of Zakir’s critics and detractors, including those in Pakatan Harapan, are able to sway Mahathir’s protection of the Islamic cleric.

In the latest Zakir episode, DAP lawmaker Ramkarpal Singh was the first Harapan leader to disagree with Mahathir’s stand, stating that the prime minister has been “misconceived”.

On Monday, the prime minister likened the status of the controversial preacher to Malaysia's request to Australia to extradite Sirul Azhar Umar, who was convicted of murder.

“Before we accept an extradition request (for Zakir from India), we need to know what will happen to the person who is to be extradited.

“We have a prisoner (Sirul, photo below) who fled to Australia. We asked Australia to send him back, but Australia said he would be hanged if sent back. So Australia has disagreed to do so until now. So we are also entitled to determine if the person we send back would be given fair justice as well,” the prime minister said.

The prime minister is adamant that he is right to continue shielding Zakir from those insisting that he be brought to face the full brunt of the law, including the Indian government.

So, Mahathir is defending a hate preacher, an alleged terrorist, money launderer, snake oil salesman and is determined to see that Zakir gets fair justice in India.

What is bewildering is that Mahathir even went to the extent of stating that Zakir would not get a fair trial in India. How does he know that and why is he so sure that Zakir will not get justice? I dread to think of the damage inflicted on our bilateral ties with India when our prime minister makes such an assumption of the justice system in a friendly nation. 

Assuming a scenario, if President Xi Jinping refuses to extradite Jho Low (photo) to Malaysia because the Chinese leader holds the opinion that Low would not get a fair trial in Malaysia, how would we, Malaysians, feel? How would Mahathir react to such an affront from China?

This defence of Zakir by the Malaysian government is getting out of hand and out of line. It is getting more and more confusing and mind-boggling for Malaysians. We are not sure what is happening and what is on Mahathir’s mind in dealing with Zakir. I believe even senior Harapan leaders are left scratching their heads in disbelief over Mahathir’s fierce defence of the hate preacher.

Do we, Malaysians, owe Zakir so big a favour that our prime minister has to 'protect’ him every time India wants him extradited to face criminal charges? Why is Mahathir worried whether Zakir will get a fair trial in India?

Many of us are able to distinguish the fundamental differences in the Sirul and Zakir cases. One is a convicted murderer, while the other has yet to stand trial. It’s unbelievable that our honourable and learned prime minister is unable to notice such glaring differences.

Is Mahathir only playing dumb? If so, he is walking on a tight rope as it proves that he is prepared to do anything to defend and protect Zakir, even to the extent of making a fool of himself. If the prime minister is genuinely misconceived, then his judgment on Zakir must be clouded by something that is inconceivable to most of us.

I have often written about the major differences between Sarawakians and Malayans and how we perceive and do things. This Zakir Naik issue is another case in point.

Sarawakians are delighted that the controversial preacher has been barred from entering our homeland, while Malaya is defending Zakir as if he is a long-awaited messiah. We, in Sarawak, don’t see eye-to-eye with Malayans on many issues. In this case, we don’t care two hoots what Putrajaya or Mahathir think of Zakir, but we disagree with the prime minister’s stand.

I have been critical of my chief minister, Abang Johari Openg, on some of his policies, but on this Zakir ban, the CM has my unequivocal support and that of the majority of Sarawakians.

A Sarawak friend wrote to me: “Dr M is worried Zakir will not get a fair trial in India! But Malaysia has an extradition treaty with India. So the rule of law doesn't apply here? Sad to say, our PM fails the measure of consistency of thoughts and actions.”

Dr Mahathir, please listen to our voices of reason. You are the only one with the power to handle Zakir and put him exactly where he belongs. Please do the only right thing – deport the hate preacher and say good riddance to bad rubbish.

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FRANCIS PAUL SIAH heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS) and can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com - Mkini