Kula to discuss deportation of Zakir Naik with Modi

PETALING JAYA: Human Resource Minister M. Kulasegaran (pix) said that he will discuss the deportation of Islamic preacher Dr Zakir Naik with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi when he goes to India soon.
"I assure the people that when I go to India and if I have the chance to meet the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I will discuss this matter with him," he said in a statement today.
He also reiterated that there needs to be a formal request from the government of India in order for Malaysia to deport Zakir who is currently in Malaysia.
"Let the Indian government make the necessary deportation order and we will follow the rule of law, but the bottom line is, the Indian government must make that request," he said.
He said this matter must be carried out according to the rule of law, and that it's not right for one man to decide the preacher's fate.
"This is the right way of doing things, it is not right for the government nor one man to decide this matter, it should be decided by law in the courts as they have the duty to dispense justice," he said.
Kulasegaran also hit out at criticisms by Parti Gerakan Malaysia for alleging that he and the other Indian ministers in the cabinet are not doing enough to deport the preacher.
"We, unlike the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) government, raised the matter in Cabinet, we discussed it and concluded that we will ask the Attorney General if there is any formal request from India," he said.
He also backed Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who said that Zakir can stay in Malaysia as long as it is done in accordance with the rule of law.
"Tun Mahathir was right when he said Zakir can stay here provided he did not do anything wrong or cause unrest here as it was in accordance with the rule of law," he said.
In an earlier report Gerakan national legal and human rights bureau head Baljit Singh slammed Harapan's Indian leaders for being unable to keep their promises to deport Zakir which is what they vowed to do on the campaign trail of the GE14.
Baljit Singh said that the Indian ministers and deputy ministers in the government have failed to convince Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to deport Zakir and questioned their about turn.
"If they can U-turn on this basic thing, what about other issues?" he said.
Zakir is banned from entering Singapore and is also a "wanted man" in Bangladesh, another Muslim country in the region for court charges on claims of money laundering, supporting terrorist activities and inciting religious tension.
Despite these allegations, Zakir obtained permanent residence status in Malaysia during the rule of BN, and he is also welcomed in Saudi Arabia.
He has courted controversy in Malaysia for reportedly delivering hate speeches during his talks. Zakir has denied such claims.
Mahathir has refused to bow to India's pressure to deport Zakir, citing the excuse that he did not commit any crime in Malaysia.