PETALING JAYA: Controversial preacher Zakir Naik should be given the room to debate to help calm the situation following his public comments on politics and race, says Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.
The PAS president said apart from having dialogues, authorities, political parties, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the media and Zakir himself should respect the multiracial unity in the country.
"All parties must be ready to face and have dialogues in a scientific (ilmiah) and wise (berhikmah) way in order to find the 'truth and togetherness'. RTM and the state governments should give room for these dialogues to happen, as how the Kelantan state government organised the other day.
"Secondly, the multiracial unity must be upheld, " said Abdul Hadi in a Facebook post on Monday (Aug 19).
The Bachok lawmaker said that all parties are responsible to look after the sensitivity of the various races and religions in the country.
The Bachok lawmaker said that all parties are responsible to look after the sensitivity of the various races and religions in the country.
The Islamist party leader also said that investigations must be done on political leaders and media practitioners who have become "pests" in creating such uneasiness.
Abdul Hadi said that PAS and the PAS Supporters Club are always committed to defend the racial unity in the country and are open to dialogues with all parties based on the principles of truth.
"Thirdly, the guarantee for safety also needs to be taken care of without looking at race and religion, " he added.
Abdul Hadi said that the permanent residence status given to Zakir is also a basic human right.
"The right to safety is also a guarantee against anyone whose well-being is being threatened, even against non-Muslims.
"Government and agencies under the Home Ministry must be stern in giving this guarantee, " said Abdul Hadi.
Recently, Zakir had reported to have claimed that Malaysian Indians were more loyal to the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.
The preacher was also reported to have called Malaysian Chinese "old guests" who should go back to their ancestral land before he was made to leave the country.
On Sunday (Aug 18), Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that Zakir had overstepped the boundaries of Malaysia's multicultural and multi-religious environment with his public comments on race and politics.
Several states, such as Johor, Selangor, Penang, Kedah, Perlis and Sarawak have decided to bar Zakir from speaking in public.
Sarawak has even barred the controversial preacher from entering the states.
More than 100 police reports have been lodged against Zakir, who was granted Malaysian PR in 2015.- Star
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