Many times we have been told and reminded that the highest award rendered by any sovereign nation is to grant citizenship for her soon to become citizens. In the Malaysian context, one needs to wait for years and years and sometimes decades before their application for citizenship is approved. The process is arduos and lengthy with many visits to Putrajaya, long silences and unclear rejections.
However, some have it much easier than others. There is no need for surat rayuan from the applicants, no need to be on a waiting list for years and years on end with no closure. But, Zakir Naik seems to be among the few favoured by the previous Barisan Nasional regime that speedily granted a ‘permanent resident’ status to him and even a full citizenship to the wife of the then Chief Minister of Sarawak Taib Mahmud, Ragad al Kurdi in record speed, bypassing lengthy waiting periods. Not only had BN granted citizenship to this poisonous, vile character but to his son also!
Given that the previous regime had granted Zakir Naik a PR status which is the final step before a full citizenship, the Home Ministry must do the necessary to revoke his citizenship and send him packing on a one-way-ticket to India to face charges against him for money laundering. He is accused of acquiring £21 million or RM106 billion worth of asssets amassed through criminal assets. Hundreds of millions of dollars worth of assets had been identified as proceeds of crime. While Zakir Naik periodically denies this, he has yet to make his case heard in a special court on the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by July 31st or risk arrest. It is 2 weeks since the order was given by out by India but Zakir Naik who strangely has immunity constantly who cries wolf claiming he will be killed if he is sent back, which cannot be proven, and instead has been happily enjoying himself in Malaysia, speaking to thousands, permeating his audience with radical, inflammatory speeches that acts as a divisive tool amongst peace loving Malaysian citizens inciting hatred, extremism and no tolerance for other faiths and beliefs as well belittling and insulting freedom of other religions and belief as a whole.
The first step in sending this nasty person back to India or to any one of the 15 nations offering him citizenship, is to revoke his Permannent Resident status and that of his son’s PR which will facilitate in his departure. Malaysia must never be seen as a protector of criminals and an accessory in providing a safe refuge for someone who propagates hatred and bigotry to give hardline criminals like Zakir Naik, his son or any other preacher who spews venom, pitting Malaysians against Malaysians.
Zakir Naik clearly does not belong here, amongst Malaysians who are proud of the beautiful culture, beliefs, tradition and needs to be sent back, to other countries like Saudi Arabia perhaps.
Let us also remind ourselves that even Bangladesh has banned him from entering their country and on more than one occasion, have terrorists attributed their actions to the teachings of Zakir Naik.
By allowing the likes of Zakir Naik to continue to reside here and to openly and brazenly poison the minds of Malaysians and shamelessly instigate hatred, sets a dangerous precedence to future home grown extremists and ‘imported ones’ to make Malaysia their home and base to operate, train and cultivate radicalism and extremism in Malaysia and in the region.