Malaysian authorities has announced that it will summon Dr. Zakir Naik over his alleged racial remarks he made in the multi-ethnic nation.
In a statement late on Thursday, Home Affairs Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said that the police will question Naik for making “racially tinged statements” about Malaysia’s minority communities during an event in Kelantan last week.
“I would like to remind all parties, including non-citizens, that enforcement agencies under my ministry will not think twice to take legal action against anyone who attempts to threaten public harmony and peace,” Muhyiddin said in a statement, reports Reuters.
A representative for Naik told Reuters that he would first need to study the minister’s statement.
Naik has been granted permanent residency in Malaysia, where Malay Muslims make up about 60 percent of a population of 32 million.
Earlier, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad had refused to extradite Dr Naik to India on the grounds that he might not receive a fair trial.
In November 2016, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) registered a case against the televangelist under the Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). His Mumbai-based NGO Islamic Research Foundation has been declared an unlawful association.
The preacher came under the lens of security agencies after some terrorists, allegedly involved in the attack on a cafe in Dhaka in July 2016, reportedly claimed they were inspired by his speeches.