Bukit Aman hauls up controversial preacher again
KUALA LUMPUR: Controversial preacher Dr Zakir Naik was back in Bukit Aman to have his statement recorded.
Bukit Aman CID director Comm Datuk Huzir Mohamed said Zakir was called back over claims he made against several politicians.
“The case is being investigated under Section 500 of the Penal Code (defamation),” he said in a statement yesterday.
Zakir left Bukit Aman at 7.30pm after he was summoned there for the third time.
He did not speak to the press when he left the federal police headquarters.
His lawyer, Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader, confirmed that Zakir would be back again on Monday.
“He has been advised not to hold seminars and speeches for the time being.
“He will heed and obey the law,” he added.
Zakir had his statement recorded twice in the last seven days over controversial remarks he reportedly uttered during a religious talk called “Executive Talk bersama Dr Zakir Naik” in Kota Baru, Kelantan.
Responding to calls for his deportation, Zakir had called on the Malaysian Chinese to “go back” first as they were the “old guests” of the country.
In his speech at the same talk, he also compared the Hindus in Malaysia to the Muslims in India, saying that the Hindus here enjoyed more than 100% rights in Malaysia compared to Muslims in India.
He also claimed Hindus here were more loyal to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi than to Malaysia’s Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Meanwhile in Shah Alam, Selangor Mentri Besar Amirudin Shari said the state would follow police advice on whether to allow Zakir to give talks in the state.
Zakir is restricted from giving public talks in seven states – Melaka, Johor, Selangor, Penang, Kedah, Perlis and Sarawak – following widespread complaints over his allegedly inflammatory remarks during the talk on Aug 3.
On Tuesday, all state police chiefs were ordered to bar Zakir from delivering public talks.
He is wanted by the Indian authorities since 2016 for alleged money laundering, and inciting extremism through hate speeches.
In Malaysia, he is currently being investigated under the Penal Code for intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of the peace.