Yoursay: Alas, some Indians like Zakir Naik can get PR easily

YOURSAY | ‘Thousands of stateless people in Malaysia need PR but a fugitive gets it instead.’

No record of Zakir Naik applying for M'sian citizenship - Muhyiddin

Anonymous #33227154: Many stateless people in Malaysia deserve citizenship and permanent residency (PR) but they are ignored by the government for years.

Instead, our government chose to issue PR status to a wanted fugitive from India who is instigating racial rifts with his hate speeches.

In November 2016, India's counterterrorism agency, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), filed a first information report (an official police complaint) against controversial Muslim preacher Zakir Naik and his Mumbai-based non-profit Islamic Research Foundation (IRF).

The IRF, which Zakir Naik founded in 1991, is accused of indulging in unlawful activities and promoting religious hatred.

The Hindu nationalist government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded by imposing a five-year ban on the IRF under the country's anti-terror laws.

So why are we keeping Zakir Naik here? He is already labelled as a threat to national security in his own country and banned from entering the United Kingdom, Canada and Bangladesh.

If Muhyiddin Yassin doesn't revoke Zakir Naik's PR status, he should step down as our home minister. Indeed, people like Zakir Naik should not be allowed to be in our country.

Anonymous 2673592164587: Yes, we have thousands of stateless people, many of whom are ethnic Indians, who have been waiting for their PR for years.

Meanwhile, Indian national Zakir Naik is able to get his PR with relative ease. As they say, all Indians are equal, but some are more equal than others.

6th Generation Immigrant: It appears the Pakatan Harapan government and the home minister are not answering directly the questions from MP Pang Hock Lian (Harapan-Labis).

The minister should have responded to these questions:

1. When was Zakir Naik's PR application made (which was approved by the National Registration Department in 2016)?

2. Who facilitated the (presumably) fast-track approval of the application?

3. What were the advantages possessed (or used) by Zakir to mitigate the speedy approval of his application?

5. Was there any external pressure put on NRD to speedily approve the application?

Fair Minded Senior Citizen: Why is it the business of Malaysia to say that “he (Zakir Naik) may not receive a fair trial”. When have we become the 'international conscience' of the beleaguered?

Look at the numbers that have been denied PR in Malaysia. What do you have to say on this matter, Muhyiddin?

The Indian judicial system does not succumb to the whims and fancies of political groups, let alone the ruling party.

We have also been subjected to cases of meddling in our own backyard and these are under investigation now.

The whole world will be a better place if this so-called preacher is sent back to face his alleged wrongdoings. God will most certainly come to his aid in all haste if he is innocent of the charges.

Ramesh Nair: We have thousands of stateless people in Malaysia that need citizenship or PR, and yet a 'pendatang' like Zakir Nakir could get it?

Procedure? When did he apply for the PR? How long does such an application take?

Clearly, there are issues that need to be highlighted and resolved. Perhaps Muhyiddin isn't the right man for the job. After all, he was an ex-Umno/BN man.

Kneazle: What is Zakir Naik’s contribution to our country (to be given PR)? How does the country benefit by having this person here?

He has contributed no taxes and development to this country other than running down other religions through his hate speeches.

But what is funny is that his audience consists of people who clearly do not understand English. So, what’s the point of Zakir Naik being here?

El DeeCee: And what is the outcome of the investigations of more than 500 police reports lodged against this fugitive?

Probably no further action because he is being idolised by a certain segment of the population despite idolatry being against their religion.

The Bangladesh government suspended Peace TV channel, which features Zakir Naik’s preaching, after some media reports claimed bombers of a Dhaka cafe that killed 22 people in 2016 were admirers of him.

The Malaysian government however accommodates Zakir Naik because he remains a reasonably popular character among the Malays, who gloss over his more controversial aspects.

If the government were to kick him out of the country, it causes them to lose religious credibility in the eyes of the Muslim public. But if something like in Dhaka happened here, who will be blamed?

Gggg: Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and gang have forgotten that we voted out BN because of these kinds of shenanigans.

And they are making the same mistake that Umno did, which is pleasing one segment for the sake of votes.

According to media reports, Zakir Naik has aroused controversy with his brand of Islam – among others, calling for the death penalty for homosexuals and those who abandon Islam as their faith.

A YouTube video shows Naik saying that if Osama bin Laden “is terrorising America the terrorist, the biggest terrorist, I am with him”.

We don’t want him here. Please send him back to India and let the Indian government handle this.

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