Chances are high that India has already forwarded the papers to Malaysia for the extradition of the controversial Muslim preacher Zakir Naik from Bombay.
Earlier Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi admitted that Malaysia had yet to obtain the request for Zakir’s extradition.
He further remarked that if India requests for it, Malaysia would study the matter.
Zakir is wanted by the Indian authorities for inciting terrorism, money laundering and for belittling other faiths.
He has been denied visas to countries like Bangladesh, United Kingdom, United States and others.
In Malaysia he has been acussed of spreading religious hatred by disparaging faiths other than Islam.
Although Zakir’s whereabouts are not known for sure, but there are strong rumours he is in a secret hideout in Malaysia. On a few ocassions he was seen attending Friday prayers in a mosque in Putrajaya.
Unlike two years ago, Zakir is no more the “favourite” Muslim preacher in Malaysia. There are strong evidence that he had motivated some of those terrorists who attacked the cafe in Dhaka sometime back.
There are also allegations that he was instrumental in influencing some youths from the Indian state of Kerala to join the ISIS movement.
The saying that you can fool people all the time seems rather appropriate to Zakir. Earlier he was welcomed with “open arms” in Malaysia. Some politicians regarded him as “wise man” allowing him him to go around the country preaching about Islam and ridiculing other faiths.
It was just a matter of time before the law caught up with Zakir. The investigating agencies in India were slow but they have done their work. They are asking for extradition not to “torture” him but to charge him in the court. Well, if he is really innocent, then there is no reason for him to worry.
But one thing is clear. There are ample signs that Malaysia is distancing itself from Zakir. The longer he stays in the country the more difficult is for Malaysia to join hands with the international community to fight the menace of terrorism.