‘WE THOUGHT DR MAHATHIR WOULD DEFEND ALL CITIZENS. BUT HE FAILED THAT YESTERDAY’: UNHAPPINESS SPREADS AT MAHATHIR’S PERCEIVED BETRAYAL OVER ‘EVIL’ ZAKIR NAIK – EVEN HINDU GROUPS, WHICH USED TO GLORIFY DR M, CRY FOUL

DR Mahathir Mohamad has betrayed the trust of Malaysia’s Indians and Hindus by refusing to extradite preacher Zakir Naik, said Hindu groups today.Agamam Ani adviser Arun Dorasamy told The Malaysian Insight that it is unfortunate the prime minister is backing the controversial figure instead of Indians who voted for Pakatan Harapan in last year’s general election.“What is more painful is the betrayal by Dr Mahathir, who is supposed to be a prime minister for all races. He broke that trust yesterday. He should be defending us, not brushing aside questions on Zakir.  “We know Zakir’s evil character, and we know that most of the country rejects him. But yesterday, we saw that same character from Dr Mahathir,” he said outside the Sentul district police headquarters, where some 20 Hindu civil society groups gathered to lodge reports against Zakir over his comments disparaging Malaysia’s Indians.

“The Indian community came to his (Dr Mahathir’s) rescue to change the government in the last general election. Now that he’s in power, he cannot defend us? This isn’t a failure on Zakir’s side. This is a failure on Dr Mahathir’s side. And, Dr Mahathir is sending the wrong message to the nation.”  

He said the prime minister’s betrayal hurts more than the preacher’s comments.

“We thought Dr Mahathir would defend all citizens. But he failed that yesterday.”

Arun said the Hindu groups will not stop trying to get Zakir deported, adding that they hope for 10,000 police reports to be lodged against the Mumbai-born preacher for his remarks against Hindus recently.

A ‘wanted’ poster of Mumbai-born preacher Zakir Naik, whose comments on Malaysia’s Indians and Hindus have sparked an uproar. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, August 14, 2019.

Zakir, at a ceramah in Kota Baru, said it is unfortunate that Hindus in Malaysia are more loyal to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi than Dr Mahathir.

Despite India’s request for him to be extradited to face a slew of charges in his home country, he has been granted permanent residency in Malaysia.

Yesterday, Dr Mahathir said Zakir cannot be repatriated as his life may be at risk in India.

“He is here because if he is sent back, he may be killed.

“However, we welcome any country that is willing to take him.”

He brushed aside questions on Zakir’s remarks on Hindus here.

Asked if there is truth to the preacher’s statement on Hindus’ lack of loyalty to Dr Mahathir, the statesman said: “You can ask them. How would I know?”

Members of Hindu civil groups calling for Indian preacher Zakir Naik to be deported, outside the Sentul district police headquarters today. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, August 14, 2019.

– https://www.themalaysianinsight.com