Sarawak activist wants Zakir Naik’s entry ban into state to stay regardless of Madani gov’t leniency
PROMINENT Sarawak activist Peter John Jaban has called on the Sarawak state government to keep radical Islamist preacher Zakir Naik outside the East Malaysian state’s borders.
This came about following a statement by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail’s that there is currently no gag order in place to prevent the Mumbai-born preacher from giving public speeches.
This is despite the 59-year-old Indian national being wanted by authorities in New Delhi for money laundering and inciting extremism in his country of birth.
“Zakir Naik who is already on record making controversial statements about Chinese and Hindus in Malaysia is now ramping up his rhetoric again,” fumed Jaban who is also deputy president of NGO Global Human Rights Federation (GHRF).
“In Sarawak, we work hard to maintain the delicate balance of race and religion within our rich tapestry of multi-ethnic communities and, indeed, individual families.
“We surely don’t need foreign preachers to feed Sarawak Muslims with judgement in the afterlife out of respect for the rights of each citizen to practise their chosen faith in peace as enshrined in our Federal Constitution.
“Nor do we need him to pit one religion against another, thus upsetting our existing social fabric.”
“In Sarawak, we work hard to maintain the delicate balance of race and religion within our rich tapestry of multi-ethnic communities and, indeed, individual families.
“We surely don’t need foreign preachers to feed Sarawak Muslims with judgement in the afterlife out of respect for the rights of each citizen to practise their chosen faith in peace as enshrined in our Federal Constitution.
“Nor do we need him to pit one religion against another, thus upsetting our existing social fabric.”
Peter John Jaban
In Jaban’s contention, the ban against Zakir Naik from showing up in Sarawak is pertinent given several recent controversies surrounding massive overreach by the Malaysian religious authorities.
“We have seen JAKIM suspended its guidelines for Muslims attending non-Islamic events while the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) “has been forced to withdraw the imposition of alcohol-free zones in a public food court”.
“This should give an idea of where the true religious ‘sensitivities’ of ordinary Sarawakians are placed – religious tolerance and respect over bigotry and division,” lamented Jaban who is also the Malaysian Action for Justice and Unity (MAJU) co-founder.
“Zakir Naik has been allowed to hide from prosecution in Malaysia for many years.
‘If PMX Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is unwilling to act on this, we hope the Sarawak state government can continue to protect its interests in maintaining a peaceful environment by upholding the values of inclusivity, tolerance and social harmony.”
In this regard, Jaban pointed to Sarawak’s autonomy to regulate its own immigration powers as outlined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“This will allow us to set our own standards … There is no earthly reason to protect Zakir Naik above the needs of our citizens and our society,” asserted the Sarawak Associations for Peoples Aspiration (SAPA) publicity and information chief.
“He certainly shouldn’t be allowed to spread hate in Sarawak or to cause tensions between our communities. In Sarawak, we already have our own Islamic scholars and preachers who are well respected by Sarawakians.” – Feb 22, 2025
In Jaban’s contention, the ban against Zakir Naik from showing up in Sarawak is pertinent given several recent controversies surrounding massive overreach by the Malaysian religious authorities.
“We have seen JAKIM suspended its guidelines for Muslims attending non-Islamic events while the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) “has been forced to withdraw the imposition of alcohol-free zones in a public food court”.
“This should give an idea of where the true religious ‘sensitivities’ of ordinary Sarawakians are placed – religious tolerance and respect over bigotry and division,” lamented Jaban who is also the Malaysian Action for Justice and Unity (MAJU) co-founder.
“Zakir Naik has been allowed to hide from prosecution in Malaysia for many years.
‘If PMX Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is unwilling to act on this, we hope the Sarawak state government can continue to protect its interests in maintaining a peaceful environment by upholding the values of inclusivity, tolerance and social harmony.”
In this regard, Jaban pointed to Sarawak’s autonomy to regulate its own immigration powers as outlined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“This will allow us to set our own standards … There is no earthly reason to protect Zakir Naik above the needs of our citizens and our society,” asserted the Sarawak Associations for Peoples Aspiration (SAPA) publicity and information chief.
“He certainly shouldn’t be allowed to spread hate in Sarawak or to cause tensions between our communities. In Sarawak, we already have our own Islamic scholars and preachers who are well respected by Sarawakians.” – Feb 22, 2025
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