PAS Youth committee apologises for inviting Zakir Naik's disciple

PAS Muktamar | The organising committee for the PAS Youth muktamar has apologised to Perlis delegates for allowing controversial preacher Zakir Naik's student to speak at the event.

In his winding-up speech today, committee director Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden said they were not aware there were issues between Perlis PAS and Muhammad Zamri Vinoth Kalimuthu.

"PAS Youth had invited Zamri in his capacity as a protege of Zakir.

"We wanted to show our solidarity with the issues he (Zakir) is currently facing,” he added in reference to India's request for the preacher's extradition to face money-laundering charges.

Afnan (photo, below), who is the newly elected PAS Youth vice chief, said when Zamri accepted the invitation to attend the muktamar, there were requests for him to be allowed to speak.

After a discussion with the muktamar's chairperson, he said, it was decided that Zamri would be given a special slot to speak yesterday evening.

"This happened without us knowing there were issues between him and Perlis PAS. We did not know and I don't have any details.

"So on this matter which had caused unhappiness among our friends from Perlis, PAS Youth apologises to Perlis PAS," he added.

Perlis PAS youth delegates yesterday said they were hurt by the move to invite Zamri.

The dissatisfaction is believed to be related to the torching of Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin's car on March 22.

Following the incident, Perlis police had remanded several Jabatan Amal members to assist in their investigations.

Perlis PAS Youth member Amirul Jufri Mat Saman (photo) claimed the arrests were due to slander spread by Zamri. - Mkini