Zakir Naik will be extradited if India requests: Malaysia deputy prime minister

Malasiya will sent back controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik if India sends extradition request, said the  Deputy Prime Minister of Malasiya, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi while answering to an MP's question on Naik.

Zakir Naik, who has been recently chargesheeted by the National Investigative Agency (NIA) is enjoying a permanent residency status in Malasiya. NIA will soon start request for extradition of Dr Naik.

"If India requests that he be extradited via Mutual Legal Assistance, we will send him. To date, there has been no such request," said Zahid.

He was responding to Puchong MP Gobind Singh, who had cited Indian media reports regarding terrorism charges on Zakir Naik.

Zahid added that despite India revoking Zakir's passport, Malaysia would not revoke his permanent residency status here, as he had not violated any local laws.

"I have not received any details. I just read what was reported in the media as to why his passport was cancelled. That, we respect the laws of a foreign government, but we as a legitimate government here, we follow the laws provided here," he said.

"As long as he does not violate the laws, and did not do any wrong, what more like Ipoh Barat (MP, M. Kulasegaran) had said, that he had encouraged terrorism, that he had encouraged things which involve the degrading and criticising of other faith. We never received reports on that," Zahid said, in response to DAP's Batu Gajah MP, V.Sivakumar.

Zakir Naik has been charged under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for heading an "unlawful association"; he was also charged with inciting youth to take up terror acts and to join global terror groups such as the Islamic State (IS). Naik's Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) has been banned by the Central Government for five years.

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