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Malaysiakini:

M'sia wants to send Zakir to a 'safe country', Mahathir tells India news outlet

A third stint in Putrajaya as prime minister will not see Dr Mahathir Mohamad approving India's request for the extradition of fugitive preacher Dr Zakir Naik, according to the former premier.

Instead, Mahathir told Indian news outlet WION in a recent interview that Zakir, who has held permanent residence status in Malaysia since 2016, would most likely be sent to another country where "he would be safe".

"The situation in India with regard to Muslim-Hindu relations is not so good. There have been cases of people being lynched.

"So, he is, I think not very welcomed in India," said the 95-year-old who sparked fresh speculations on his possible return to power after the launch of his newest party on Friday.

Benar News: Updated at 4:56 p.m. ET on 2019-05-16

Malaysia extradited a woman wanted by Thailand for anti-monarchy activities after Bangkok requested her deportation, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Tuesday, but a leading human rights group said the move violated legal obligations because the deportee had sought asylum abroad.

Praphan Pipithnamporn, who was registered as an asylum seeker by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), was sent back to Thailand on May 10 after Malaysian police arrested her last month on Bangkok’s request, New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said.

“If there is a request, then we will send back,” Mahathir told a news conference. “(We are a) good neighbor.”

Praphan was sent home based on a January arrest warrant issued by Thai authorities, who accused her of sedition for alleged involvement with the Organization for Thai Federation, a peaceful anti-monarchy group, HRW said in a statement.“Malaysia’s flouting of international law has placed a Thai activist at grave risk of arbitrary detention and an unjust prosecution in Thailand,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. 

Zakir now lives in exile as he is wanted in India on money laundering charges. The televangelist was granted permanent resident status here during BN's rule and has reportedly held Saudi Arabian citizenship since 2017.

MM Online (Friday, 30 Aug 2019 12:02 PM MYT):

Turkish teacher Arif Komis and his family who are protected by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have been taken by the police to be deported home for prosecution, according to several human rights activists.

Turkey-based human rights website Turkeypurge.com said it received an email from eyewitnesses claiming that Komis, his wife and four children were nabbed two nights ago from their home in Kuala Lumpur and are currently being held at an immigration centre near Putrajaya where they are being processed for deportation at the request of the Turkish government.

“Mr Komis, who is a chemistry teacher, was repeatedly denied passport by the Turkish Embassy and thus given protection by the UN. He and his family are in UN protection,” Turkeypurge wrote.

To questions from the interviewer, Mahathir insisted that strained Muslim-Hindu ties in India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi had prompted Malaysia's resistance to requests for Zakir's extradition.

"We thought, for the time being, he can stay here, but we would like to send him to some other country where he would be safe.

"Unfortunately, not many countries are willing to accept him," said Mahathir who, during his 22-month stint at the helm of the Pakatan Harapan-led government, triggered strained ties with Modi over remarks made on the Kashmir conflict.

Last Sept 27, Mahathir in a speech at the UN General Assembly in New York, said that India and Pakistan should work together to resolve the conflict over claims on Jammu and Kashmir, prompting an Indian trade body to call for a boycott of Malaysia's palm oil produce.

Mahathir, however, maintained that Malaysia's relations with India remain good overall, a policy maintained throughout the tenure of all of India's prime ministers.

When it was pointed out that his comments on the Kashmir conflict would not be well accepted by any Indian premier, Mahathir insisted he would similarly speak out against any wrongdoings committed anywhere in the world.

By contrast, Zakir Naik sat with PM in exalted position

"It is not about supporting Pakistan, it is about the people of Kashmir. It is not about being Islamic or about being the leader of the Islamic world.

"When I think something wrong has been done by anybody, even the big powers, I have always felt free to voice my opinion, that's all," Mahathir said to a suggestion that his comments backing Pakistan was an attempt to position himself as the leader of the Muslim world.

Despite the support shown for Pakistan, it was brought up in the interview that it was Prime Minister Imran Khan who had, reportedly under pressure from Saudi Arabia, turned down an invitation to attend the Kuala Lumpur Summit gathering of Muslim leaders last November.