Its vice-chairman, Hassan Basri Muhammad, today described lawyer Siti Kasim, former law minister Zaid Ibrahim and Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran as “nobodies” who had been insolent (“biadap”) enough to reproach the government.
“We would like to give them a reminder as they are perhaps too shallow and don’t understand the rights and powers of the ruling government,” he said in a statement.
“Who are these two or three ‘pieces’ (“kerat”) who are nobodies?” he said, accusing them of trying to be seen as champions by admonishing the government.
“Malaysia is clearly a sovereign nation like many others and has the right and prerogative to confer PR on anyone.”
Hailing Naik as a world-famous preacher in the field of comparative religions, he congratulated the government for its move.
Hassan said Malaysia has already given PR to tens of thousands of foreigners.
He questioned why the critics were not targeting foreigners, especially those from China and India, who came to Malaysia on the pretext of higher education but later “disappeared” to continue residing in the country.
On April 16, Perkasa honoured Naik with its warrior award for his contributions towards the struggle of Islam.
Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday disclosed that Naik was given PR more than five years ago. Zahid said this was before he became the home minister in May 2013.
Naik, who was based in Mumbai, fled from India after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) there began investigating him.
In November last year, India banned his Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) for five years, citing his “objectionable and subversive” speeches.
The NIA is now seeking a Red Notice (equivalent to an international arrest warrant) from Interpol after Naik defied repeated summonses to join in an investigation into his affairs.
Hassan said it was India’s right to conduct the investigation, while Malaysia was also fully within its rights as a sovereign nation.
He said Malaysia had asserted that it is ready to cooperate with India if the two countries have a mutual legal assistance (MLA) treaty.
He also lashed out at allegations that Naik was an extremist and terrorism promoter, and took to task Siti and 18 other individuals for filing a suit on March 1 against the Malaysian government for allegedly harbouring the controversial preacher.
Siti yesterday questioned the PR award, saying some 300,000 Indians in Malaysia are stateless and have not been given citizenship despite having lived in the country for ages.
Zaid yesterday also questioned Putrajaya for protecting Naik, saying he should be sent back to India to face the law.
Kulasegaran had on Monday urged the government not to “take sides” by providing safe haven to Naik, and to work with India to eliminate any crime or wrongdoing.
Siti Kasim: Why PR for Zakir Naik when many here are stateless?