Saifuddin: Malaysia is sticking to its decision to let Zakir Naik remain

Malaysia is sticking to its stand not to return controversial preacher Dr Zakir Naik to his native India, said Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah.

Malaysia will send a letter to the Indian government to clarify its decision after getting the views of Attorney-General Thommy Thomas and the cabinet's approval on the matter.

Saifuddin said the decision was made without any pressure from any foreign country.

"This is a follow-up to the note we sent in a meeting with the foreign minister of India last week, where at the ASEAN summit he reiterated that India had formally sent a letter requesting the extradition of Zakir Naik, and (India) requesting the government to respond specifically.

"The stance is unchanged, but to send a letter there is a legal language. The content (of the letter) must be discussed with the attorney general.

"Our decision is based, not on the pressure of any foreign country but on our own considerations," he said when met in Kuala Lumpur last night.

Saifuddin added that India was not the only country that Malaysia had declined an extradition request.

Last Thursday in Parliament, Saifuddin announced that Malaysia would send an official letter to India clarifying its decision not to send back the independent preacher, who is wanted in his native country on money-laundering charges.

On Sept 17, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad reportedly claimed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had not made any request to Malaysia to return Zakir Naik.

The Prime Minister said the controversial speaker was among matters discussed with his counterpart during a bilateral meeting outside the Eastern Economic Forum in Russia earlier that month.

"I met Modi (and) he didn't tell me he wanted this guy (Zakir)," Mahathir said.

Putrajaya has refused to deport the preacher despite requests from India, expressing concern about whether he will receive a fair trial.

Zakir Naik has continually courted controversy by suggesting that Hindus in Malaysia were more loyal to Modi than to Mahathir.

He also said that Chinese in Malaysia were guests who should be asked to leave before he is asked to. - Mkini