He said Putrajaya would be put in an uncomfortable and embarrassing position if India issues a non-bailable warrant against Naik and gets an Interpol red corner notice on him which would require the country harbouring him to hand him over to India.
“If all this comes to pass, Malaysia will be put on the spot. Prime Minister Najib’s standing as a Muslim moderate and his creation of a lobby for global moderation will be in tatters,” he said.
“Malaysia cannot run with the hare of global moderation and simultaneously hunt with the hounds of Muslim extremism,” he added in his speech in the Dewan Rakyat today while debating Budget 2017, tabled by Prime Minister Najib Razak.
The DAP vice-chairman said a video showing Naik receiving “VVIP” treatment in Malaysia had gone viral.
The video shows Naik, who has been given permanent resident (PR) status in Malaysia, being driven in an official car escorted by police outriders.
“He is alleged to be linked to terrorism in India. Interpol may soon issue a red flag on him,” Kulasegaran said.
“Why then is he given special treatment in Malaysia? Is the government willing to cooperate with the Indian government and deport Zakir?”
Kulasegaran said investigative agencies in India wanted to examine cases related to 50 individuals who were allegedly drawn to violent extremism after listening to Naik’s sermons.
He said Indian agencies were also probing the source of funds received by Naik’s organisations from different countries.
Naik was seen on Sept 29 participating in Friday prayers at the Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque in Putrajaya. Photos of him in the congregation were uploaded on Facebook and spread via social media.
According to reports, he also resides in Saudi Arabia.
Last week, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Raveesh Kumar said the government was finalising the internal legal process for an extradition request to Malaysia.
On Oct 31, the home ministry said Naik was not receiving “special treatment” although he enjoyed PR status in Malaysia.
In a written answer to DAP’s Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, it said there was no reason to arrest him for alleged terrorism as he had not violated any Malaysian laws.
“Besides, the government has not received any official request from the Indian government in relation to allegations that he was involved in terrorist activities,” it said.
Naik fled India in 2016, after a suspect in a terror attack on a Dhaka cafe in Bangladesh said he had been influenced by Naik’s speeches. Bangladesh banned his Peace TV channel.
The Times of India reported on Oct 21 that India’s National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) probe had revealed that Naik had radicalised and influenced several Muslim youngsters to be involved in jihadi activities through his speeches.
The youngsters had then joined violent extremist organisations and planned terror attacks in India, it added.
It cited several terror suspects, including Indian Mujahideen member Qateel Ahmed Siddiqui, alleged Islamic State (IS) online recruiter Afsha Jabeen, and IS recruits Mudabbir Sheikh, Mohammed Obaidullah Khan, Abu Anas and Mohammed Nafees Khan, as claiming that they were influenced by Naik’s speeches.
Application filed to attach 5 properties of Zakir Naik in Mumbai