BERSATU rep Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen has defended the event he is hosting featuring Zakir Naik in Malacca, saying there is nothing wrong as the controversial preacher would not be speaking.
Rafiq, the Paya Rumput assemblyman and a state exco member, also said he was willing to wager his position to ensure the event at Masjid Cina Krubong on September 7 went ahead with Zakir.
“I, nor any Muslim person, have never disturbed any event at any temple where monks or religious leaders are invited to perform prayers,
“So why is it such an issue to have Zakir, a respected Muslim, coming to a mosque in Malacca simply to perform prayers?,” Rafiq, who is also chairman of the mosque hosting the event, told The Malaysian Insight.
“I can’t accept this at all. I will defend it, if need be I will give up my post for the right of Muslims. It is not because of Zakir Naik, but about what is the right of Muslims. If I am required to sacrifice my post, I will give it up,” the state industry, trade and investment committee chairman said.
Rafiq, who is also a Bersatu supreme council member, said the “Malam Islam Bersama Zakir Naik” event will begin before Maghrib prayers and only involve prayers, with no speeches.
Yesterday, a poster of the event with his and Zakir’s faces on it went viral on social media.
Rafiq is hosting the event amidst a police ban on the India-born preacher from speaking on any public platform until investigations into his remarks which allegedly offended Malaysian Hindus and Chinese are completed.
Malacca Chief Minister Adly Zahari last month said Zakir would not be allowed to preach in the state.
But Rafiq said the event was a private programme by the mosque he chaired and not a state government event. He also said Adly had approved the event and so had the police, since Zakir will not be delivering any speech.
He said he just wanted Muslims to have the right to carry out prayer services without being disturbed.
“I’m not a Malay or Muslim extremist. I’m sure all races also want the freedom to hold prayers and call their religious leaders to their temples for prayers.
“We’ve never disturbed other houses of worship when they invite leading figures in their religion to conduct prayers.
“So Zakir Naik’s programme in Malacca will continue, even though I am under pressure because of it,” Rafiq added.
He said there should be no more objections to the event, since the police and chief minister had given it the green light.
Malacca police chief Raja Shahrom Raja Abdullah confirmed to The Malaysian Insight earlier today that the event could proceed as it did not involve any speeches.
THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT
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