Tamil daily denies link with Zakir Naik, calls allegation 'baseless and fake'

KUALA LUMPUR: Tamil daily Malaysia Nanban has refuted allegations of sponsoring and supporting the controversial televangelist Zakir Naik, stating that such claims was "baseless" and "fake".
The newspaper's director, Datuk Shafee Zaman Sikandar Batcha, said the issue started with the spread of a Whatsapp message that went viral and was later blown out of proportion.
"We identified the message about a week ago. It linked us to Zakir Naik and suddenly the issue became viral," he said.
"I have never met him (Zakir) and I have never seen him before … He is in 'high level' hands. We are just a Tamil newspaper. How does it relate to us?" he told theSun.
A Whatsapp message has been circulating calling for the public to boycott the daily, claiming that Zakir had received sponsors and support from Malaysia Nanban.
Zakir's frequent visits to Malaysia had sparked controversies and protests from the public on grounds that the Muslim preacher was a threat to national harmony and unity.
Shafee Zaman said Malaysia Nanban lodged a police report last Monday when the fake message started to surface online.
"We also went to Bukit Aman the next day to further clarify our report. Police have already started an investigation," he said, adding that the paper has an idea of those responsible for disseminating the message.
He added evidence on the matter had been submitted to the police for further action.
Shafee Zaman said the issue started on a very small scale but was being hyped up by the newspaper's "competitor".
"It was a very simple thing. Somebody posted and spread (the message), our competitor saw that and picked it up," he said.