Zakir Naik’s deportation cannot be decided by one man say Indian-origin ministers in Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, July 14: A week after Malaysian Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohammad said that controversial Islamic preacher, Zakir Naik will not be deported to India, three ministers have questioned his judgment.

During a Cabinet meeting held in Malaysia this week, three ministers of Indian-origin raised the issue and said that this could not be decided by just one man. Human resources minister M Kulasegaran, minister for communications, Gobind Singh Deo and natural resources minister, Xavier Jayakumar raised this issue at the Cabinet meeting that was held on Friday.

We discussed the issue and concluded that we would ask the attorney general if there is any formal request from India for extradition, the ministers told the media. Let the Indian government make the necessary deportation order, and we will follow the rule of law. The Indian government must make the request and that is the bottom line, Kulasegaran said.

This is the right way to decide on the matter and it is not right for the government or one man to decide on the matter. This is a matter to be decided by the courts, he further added.

Deo said that if India or any other country is able to make out a case that warrants a person to be sent back, then the government should act accordingly. Kulasegaran added that if he goes to India and is able to meet with Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, then he would discuss the matter with him.