ZAKIR NAIK MUST LEAVE MALAYSIA

By K.Siladass

It is strange that Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad was very quick to accuse Gong Dong, the Chinese educationist group as racists but maintains absolute brutal silence on the daring, mischievous and venomous accusation heaped by the Indian fugitive Zakir Naik on the Malaysian Indians. He has not spared our Chinese brethren, for he brazenly tells them to leave Malaysia. A foreigner whose purported criminal activities had prompted the Indian Government to initiate extradiction proceedings, has the temerity to challenge Malaysians. A foreigner is questioning the Indians’ loyalty and demanding that the Chinese should leave are matters that could ignite racial tension, yet there is no response from the Prime Minister and the Minister for Home Affairs.

The Indian run away fugitive who has been given Malaysian permanent-resident-status had been denied entry in many countries, and Mahathir himself has confirmed this. Mahathir should have studied the reasons why he is denied entry in various countries. The suggestion that foreign criminals could be safe in this country just as other criminals, or those who are suspected to be criminals, seems too real.

Zakir who has no respect for the laws of his country of birth has no qualms to question Malaysian Indians’ loyalty. By abusing the hospitality extended to him,he has thereby shown that his motive is to create discontent among Malaysians. Mahathir is not concerned about this and has not seen it important to condemn Zakir Naik, and he has not come to the defence of Malaysians from the unjustifiable attack by a foreigner, fugitive, wanted by his country.

It is heartening to note that not all Malaysians share Mahathir's intolerable silence. The President of the Persatuan Patriot Kebangsaan, retired Brigadier-General Datuk Mohamed Arshad Raji has condemned Zakir Naik and warned him to keep away from controversy. Zakir Naik is dishonest with hidden agenda. Those who have joined in calling for his removal from Malaysian soil are Tan Sri Rais Yatim, a prominent lawyer, and former cabinet minister, the present minister for Youth and Sports, Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman, and Mahathir’s daughter Marina. The warning is timely and clear. Zakir has no place under the Malaysian sun. He has to go.

Mahathir should appreciate that Gong Dong is Malaysian by origin, it exists legally and is managed by Malaysian citizens and its concern should be treated with respect. Hurling insensitive remarks would not help.They are not fugitives or the likes of foul and venom spewing Zakir Naik.

Who should leave Malaysia, Kit Siang or Zakir Naik?

Ahmad Fadhki Shaari, MP for Pasir Mas wants Lim Kit Siang, DAP veteran and who has served, and continues to serve as a member of parliament since 1969 to leave Malaysia. This call comes in the wake of Kit Siang urging controversy-prone-preacher Dr Zakir Naik to leave Malaysia and return to India. The call by Pasir Mas MP as a comparison falls flat.

Kit Siang is a Malaysian citizen by virtue of his birth. Zakir Naik is an Indian citizen by birth and he has been given permanent resident status to live in Malaysia. Zakir Naik is a fugitive who had run away from law. Kit Siang is not a run away staying in Malaysia. People like Ahmad Fadhli who languish in false, fabricated and laughable history should know, or at least attempt to learn the truth, the historical truth.

When May 13th riot riots broke out in Kuala Lumpur Kit Siang was away in Kota Kinabalu. He heard of the riots whilst he was there. He could not return as Kuala Lumpur was under curfew, therefore he landed in Singapore. It was then evident that many politicians have had been arrested and detained under the much hated Internal Security Act. And it was very obvious that Kit Siang would be arrested. Here comes the crux of the difference between Kit Siang and Zakir Naik. Kit Siang braved the arrest and returned to Kuala Lumpur fully aware that he will be arrested and detained without trial for an indefinite period. He could have stayed away by not returning to Malaysia. He desisted such a notion.

Now let us look at Zakir Naik's position. He is wanted by Indian authorities to answer criminal charges that had been made against him. There is a warrant for his arrest. He will get a trial, not that he will be detained without any trial. The whole world is watching and is monitoring the Zakir Naik show. Zakir himself has imposed conditions to the effect he should not be detained on arrival in India. So what we have is a situation where Zakir Naik chickens out when it comes to facing the realities of law; but not Kit Siang who bravely walked into facing harsh detestable laws knowing too well he will be detained without any trial.

Member of Pasir Mas (Ahmad Fadhli) should go and read history and learn to distinguish between sand and gold. Sand will be washed away but gold will remain where it is. Zakir Naik is sand, Kit Siang is gold and will remain where he rightly belongs.

K. Siladass