KUALA LUMPUR: Nineteen people, including Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy and lawyer Siti Kasim, today filed a suit against the government for allegedly harbouring controversial preacher Zakir Naik.

The 19 claimed the preacher, who is a citizen of India, was capable of threatening national security and harmony.

“He has encouraged terrorism in public,” they said in their lawsuit.

The group also claimed that Zakir’s presence in Malaysia was a serious threat to the country’s safety.

“This is a dangerous person as he is banned in a few countries on suspicion of working with terrorist groups,” they said.

The group is also seeking a court order that Zakir be considered a threat to Malaysia, and with that, requested an order to stop him from coming to the country or remaining here, if he was already in the country.

“We are also asking the police to arrest him,” they added.

The lawsuit, which named Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the director-general of the immigration department, the director-general of the national registration department, inspector-general of police and the Malaysian government, was filed at the High Court registry here.

Speaking to reporters after filing the suit, Siti said the group had nothing against Islam although they were taking action against a Muslim preacher.

“I know some Malays think we are against Islam. But the fact is we are upholding Islam,” she said.

Siti said the country had enough radicals who split the Muslims and “we do not need any more”.

Last month, Waythamoorthy sent a letter to Zahid over Zakir’s permanent resident status in Malaysia.

He indicated that if the government failed to reply to his queries, Hindraf would sue the government.

Zakir appeared at a mosque in Perlis to deliver a Friday sermon on Feb 10 and spoke at Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMap) the same day, where a university student converted to Islam after listening to him.

Last year, Zakir made headlines after the Hindustan Times reported that he allegedly held dual Indian-Malaysian citizenships.

However the home ministry denied the claim.

Zakir is under investigation in India for spreading communal hatred and glorifying terrorism.

He was also reported to be sought by India’s Enforcement Directorate over a money laundering case.

The republic’s National Investigation Agency was also investigating 78 bank accounts and investments amounting to Rs100 crore (RM65 million) linked to him, NDTV reported.

Zakir caused a stir last year after he was alleged to have insulted Hindu deities and practices.

He is also reported to have been banned from the United Kingdom and Canada, following his apparent support of terror groups.