Call grows in Malaysia to kick Zakir Naik out

A controversial Indian Islamic preacher yesterday apologised for making comments about race in multi-ethnic Malaysia which sparked calls for his expulsion, a day after being questioned by police. Zakir Naik, a radical television preacher, left India in 2016 and moved to largely Muslim Malaysia, where he was granted permanent residency. He is wanted in India for inciting extremism and money laundering, and New Delhi last year reportedly asked Malaysia to extradite him -- a request that was rejected. Calls have escalated for Naik to be kicked out after he said Hindus in Malaysia have “100 times” more rights than India’s Muslim minority, and suggested Chinese Malaysians should be expelled. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has said Naik crossed the line and several cabinet ministers have called for him to be kicked out, while police have banned him from giving public talks anywhere in Malaysia, state news agency Bernama reported.