In full view of the audience, who numbered almost 40,000 at Padang Astaka here, Woo Nina Grace, 19, recited the syahadah (declaration of faith) and became a Muslim.

Nina was not the only one who cried as she recited the syahadah, as tears flowed freely among the audience too.

A student at a private college here, whose mother is from the Philippines and father from Johor, Nina said she had been studying Islam since she was 13 years old.

At the end of the talk titled “Muslims’ Choice – Faith or Destruction”, and the question-and-answer question, at 12.45 am, Dr Zakir and Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman met Nina in a room backstage.

Efforts by the press to interview Nina failed when they were stopped by the programme’s secretariat.

Ahmad Razif said the state government also planned to invite Dr Zakir next year for talks which would include other international preachers.

– BERNAMA