PARLIAMENT | Ramkarpal Singh (Harapan-Bukit Gelugor) has questioned the government's commitment to investigate a news report linking controversial preacher Dr Zakir Naik to an alleged terror plot in India.
In debating the Home Ministry's budget, Ramkarpal quoted a report by Indian newspaper Times of India that cited intelligence documents which revealed alleged links between Zakir (photo, above) and a Malaysia-based Rohingya organisation leader.
"I seek clarification on this issue, which I think is very serious, with regard to the role of Zakir Naik in this issue.
"As to what has been reported by the Indian authorities, has it been taken seriously by our government?" Ramkarpal asked.
He further noted that Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador had said yesterday that the police have not received any formal report on the matter and welcomed any information related to possible terror plots.
"That is puzzling because these things could not have happened overnight," said Ramkarpal, who also asked whether the government would accede to India's request for Zakir's extradition.
The Times of India report quoted intelligence that the Rohingya leader had received funds from Zakir and may be at an "advanced stage" of plotting a terror strike, with four Indian cities - Ayodhya, Bodhgaya, Punjab and Srinagar - mentioned as "likely targets".
It was further reported that the attempted attack would be carried out "in the next few weeks" by a group led by a woman said to be trained in Myanmar.
Responding to Ramkarpal, Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin said the police have yet to receive any request for cooperation from India, but would be willing to offer any assistance required.
"After we have received a report, we will make sure that the necessary measures are taken," said Hamzah in his speech to wind-up the Home Ministry's committee stage debate for allocations under the Supply Bill 2021.
Hamzah also responded to several MPs who raised the issue of citizenship for the stateless, as well as babies born abroad to a Malaysian mother and foreign father.
The minister pledged that he would soon announce a measure to expedite applications from individuals born in Malaysia and have never been granted citizenship.
"On what was raised by Libaran (MP, Zakaria Mohd Edris), this is an old problem and I will try to make an announcement soon, for all of those who feel that they are citizens but yet to register as citizens.
"There is no need to wait until 63 years," he said, alluding to people born in Malaysia since before Independence but never granted citizenship.
Hamzah said he would likely give time of up to a year for the people to come forward with documents that can prove their status as a Malaysian citizen.
Charles Santiago (Harapan-Klang) stood up to interject and said Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, as the home minister under the previous Harapan administration, had made a similar promise but with little progress.
On the issue of babies born abroad to a Malaysian mother and foreign father, Hamzah reiterated that Malaysia will not automatically grant requests to grant them Malaysian citizenship.
While by convention the babies will be granted citizenship status that follows their foreign fathers, Hamzah said a Malaysian mother can register their newborn at their nearest Malaysian foreign mission.
"When the children reach the age of 21, they can decide whether to follow the father or the mother's citizenship," he said.
The Home Ministry's budget allocation of RM16.8 billion for next year was later passed, via a voice vote. - Mkini
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