BY: DESMOND JUDE

Zakir Naik, an Indian national and self-styled Islamic preacher is known to court controversy and has been on the run from Indian authorities after instigating riots in Mumbai that witnessed the deaths of many people.

The government of India has also preferred charges of money laundering and other crimes against Zakir but he fled and Malaysia provided him with a safe haven though there are extradition plans by India.

Zakir is a televangelist and lays claim to be an expert on comparative religion but the rhetoric he spews most of the time is absurd, bizarre and perverted that is anathema to decent, upright and right thinking people.

A gag order on him, preventing him from giving speeches, has been mysteriously lifted by Malaysia’s Home Ministry to the concern of Malaysians, both Muslims and non-Muslims as they dread his preaching and teaching.

There are countries that have condemned Zakir internationally and do not want him to step foot on their soil yet Malaysia welcomes this known fugitive whom Hindu fanatics want to hang at the gallows in India.

Zakir is not only an embarrassment on the international stage but also to Malaysians who have listened to his heresy and think of him as nothing more than a crackpot who should not be allowed to give his unfounded views.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE

** The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher