Reliable sources who have previously spoken to FMT on Naik’s attempts to restart his Islamic propagation outfit in Malaysia, said supporters were also happy that the Indian Muslim preacher managed to greet Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad at the Putrajaya mosque yesterday, hoping that it would be the first in a series of gestures to establish contacts with key decision makers in Putrajaya.
“Naik has always moved within powerful circles, whether in Malaysia or abroad. This modus operandi of his has so far ensured him refuge from attempts to have him deported to India,” the source told FMT under conditions of strict anonymity.
Naik has been almost a permanent feature at the Putrajaya mosque every week, where government ministers and key officials attend their Friday prayers.
His “meeting” with Mahathir yesterday was brief, and there was visibly no affection exchanged between the two.
This was unlike his meeting in February with then home minister and deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, when the two men hugged like old friends, touching their chins.
Naik is wanted in India over accusations of money laundering and the spread of extremism, charges that Naik has strongly rejected.
Authorities there as well as in Bangladesh have also closed down his Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) and his missionary satellite channel PeaceTV.
A source close to Naik’s inner circles in Malaysia said his modus operandi to image-build has always been “top-to-bottom”, through making contacts with people in power to strengthen his base.
A closed social media group sighted by FMT showed photographs of Naik with top PH leaders being shared.
“This (picture) was clicked when Anwar Ibrahim was invited by us as a Chief Guest for the Closing Ceremony of the Peace Conference held in Mumbai, India in Dec 2007,” says one message accompanied by a photo of Naik with prime minister-in-waiting Anwar Ibrahim.
Indian police never had a chance to question Naik. He has carefully evaded them, flying to and from Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Through his close ties with top Umno leaders and a coterie of local Muslim scholars alligned to Naik’s brand of Salafi Islam, Naik felt safe in Malaysia, with efforts underway to restart his lecture activities as well as PeaceTV.
“Whether or not the PR campaign by Naik’s followers will succeed, remains to be seen. But it will likely not sit well with government supporters including Pakatan Harapan’s partner Hindraf,” the same source told FMT.
Naik’s speeches on “comparative studies” angered non-Muslim groups in Malaysia, as they did in his home country.
Hindu pressure group Hindraf and several other civil society groups had taken the previous government to court, accusing it of “harbouring” Naik by giving him permanent resident status.
But in February, the suit was thrown out by the High Court, allowing Naik to remain in the country without any immediate threats of deportation.
Wanted in India, Naik set to rebuild empire in friendly Malaysia