BERSATU Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman represented himself in extending an olive branch to controversial preacher Zakir Naik, said Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
The youth and sports minister has come under heavy fire after sharing pictures of a dinner he hosted for the preacher after having earlier called for the Mumbai-born Zakir to be deported to India for playing up racial issues here.
Muhyiddin, who is also Bersatu president, today said that Syed Saddiq’s views were not the views of the government.
“Syed Saddiq isn’t the only one who has met Zakir Naik. Many opposition members have also met him.
“For me it doesn’t matter; we aren’t bound by their views. We are bound by the rule of law,” he said after an event in Kuala Lumpur today.
He added that Syed Saddiq’s dinner with Zakir would not disrupt investigations into divisive comments the preacher had recently made.
“Whatever the case, it will not disrupt the ongoing investigations,” said Muhyiddin.
Syed Saddiq had earlier lambasted Zakir for the latter’s remarks during a ceramah about the Chinese and Indian community, and urged that the preacher be deported to India.
However, he made a surprise turnaround on Saturday by stating on his social media that people make mistakes and Zakir had apologised.
“There’s no need to beat on chests and make the situation worst. Let’s move on and the country needs healing,” tweeted Syed Saddiq.
Earlier, Muhyiddin also said Zakir was not above the law and would face action pending police investigations if he is found to have flouted the law.
“Nobody is above the law, whether your citizen or not. Of course, he is a PR (permanent resident); more so because he’s a PR, he is bound by the law.
“He has to adhere and accept a few things. He was given PR as an award by the state and he cannot go against the etiquette of the award and the law,” he said.
“Zakir Naik or Zakir Turun (Down), everyone is equal in the eyes of the law,” he said in jest.
He said that although Zakir is a respected scholar, he cannot get away with inciting racial tension.
“Not that we don’t respect him, don’t get us wrong. The Muslim community wants to protect him, that’s acceptable because he is a scholar and respected leader. But because he touched on (racial) sensitivities, we cannot just let it go,” he said.
Zakir has undergone two sessions of questioning and given his statement at the federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman in the past two weeks over the reports lodged against him as well as reports he made against certain political figures whom he said had defamed or slandered him.
Young man trapped in the past, Zaid schools Syed Saddiq
Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman is a young man besotted with the antiquated political style of unquestionable authority, according to Zaid Ibrahim.
The former law minister said Malaysia, however, needs leaders who empathise and seek to understand the different fears of various communities.
“Leaders who think they know everything belong to the past. Syed Sadiq, unfortunately, is a fan of the past.
“Malaysia needs leaders with patience, who don’t think that engaging with different groups is a waste of time,” he told Malaysiakini this afternoon.
Zaid was responding to the youth and sports minister describing those who threatened to have their children in vernacular schools skip classes in protest against Jawi lessons as “bodoh sombong (foolishly arrogant).”
In a Twitter post earlier, Zaid noted how Syed Saddiq, who is also the Youth chief of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s party Bersatu, appeared to be involved in numerous issues.
“Syed Sadiq is not in education, yet he is the Jawi man.
“He is not in transport, yet he is the voice of Gojek (for the motorcycle ride-sharing venture).
“He is not in religious affairs, yet a defender of (Muslim preacher Dr) Zakir Naik. If that is not ‘bodoh sombong‘, I don’t know what is,” he said.
Over the weekend, Zaid also took a sarcastic swipe at Syed Saddiq after the latter hosted a dinner for Zakir.
“It is human to make a mistake, so forgive Zakir and a few million who voted Pakatan Harapan,” Zaid tweeted.
Syed Saddiq had initially called for the Indian-born preacher’s deportation following his remarks about Hindu Malaysians and Chinese Malaysians.
However, in an Instagram post on his dinner with Zakir, the minister noted that the preacher has apologised for his comments.
“No one in this world is free from making mistakes. Zakir has apologised. I myself have made many mistakes and am open-hearted when I am reprimanded.
“There’s no need to beat on our chests and muddy the waters anymore. There’s no need to insult and disparage. Let’s move on, the country needs healing,” he said.
– M’kini
Unfortunately m'kini and the gang are unable to move on. They (zakir naik's haters) will recyle this over and over. I wonder do these haters have a whassapp group or something like that. And what would their group picture look like?😁
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