Translate
18 August 2019
Controversial preacher Zakir Naik overstepped boundaries when he touched on racial politics and stirred racial tension in the country, says Tun Dr Mahathir
Dr M: Zakir Naik 'crossed the line' when he touched on racial politics
NATION
Sunday, 18 Aug 20196:22 PM MYT
By LOH FOON FONG
image: https://apicms.thestar.com.my/uploads/images/2019/08/18/220124.jpg
KUALA LUMPUR: Controversial preacher Zakir Naik overstepped boundaries when he touched on racial politics and stirred racial tension in the country, says Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
The Prime Minister said he was not sure who had given him the permanent residence status but regardless, those holding the status cannot participate in politics.
"Religious teachers can preach but he was not doing that. He was talking about sending Chinese back to China and Indians back to India. That's politics," Dr Mahathir said in a press conference after launching the 62nd International Statistical Institute World Statistics Congress 2019 on Sunday (Aug 18).
Recently, it was reported that Penang, Perlis, Kedah and Sarawak have banned Zakir from speaking publicly in their states.
Dr Mahathir said that the government was careful about how it said things that were sensitive to the different communities in this country.
"I have never said this kind of things. But he tells the Chinese to go back.
"If you want to talk about religion, go ahead, then it is permissible. We don't want to stop him from that. But it is quite clear he wants to participate in racial politics in Malaysia. Now, he is stirring up racial feelings. That is bad," said the Prime Minister.
Because of that, Dr Mahathir said that the police will have to investigate, whether he is causing tension or not, which in his opinion, he obviously was.
The Prime Minister also said the rule of law will be imposed on Zakir as he is alleged to have preached on racial politics and riled up racial tension.
"Whatever action we take will be in accordance with the law. This government respects the rule of law," he said.
During a religious talk in Kota Baru, Kelantan on Aug 8, Zakir responded to calls for his deportation by saying that the Malaysian Chinese should "go back" first as they were the "old guests" of the country.
Prior to this, Zakir had said Hindus in Malaysia were more loyal to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi than to Dr Mahathir.
Related stories:
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/08/18/dr-m-any-action-against-zakir-will-be-based-on-rule-of-law#8A8zD5Lt8Zqz2P76.99
Popular Posts - Last 7 days
-
Maybank Singapore withdraws lawsuit against NFC chairman, children over housing loans Bernama Julai 12, 2022 Maybank Singapore Limited has...
-
Kedah MB: ECK no longer part of Kulim airport project Bernama Julai 13, 2022 Muhammad Sanusi announced that the ECK Group of Companies (EC...
-
Persatuan Karyawan Malaysia dengan sokongan FMT telah menganjurkan Majlis Iftar bersama penggiat-penggiat seni tanah air di ParkRoyal Colle...
-
No 10m Platform Medal But Pandelela & Dhabitah Are More Determined Than Ever Our hearts nearly leaped out of our chests when we heard...
-
My duty and role as director exist only in name - SRC former director Bernama Mac 27, 2024 Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi said absolute ...
-
Mitsubishi Triton Guna Siren Adalah Milik PDRM Kenderaan pacuan empat roda yang menggunakan siren dan lampu kecemasan bagi mendapatkan ...
-
King presents appointment letters to four new envoys Bernama Julai 12, 2022 His Majesty presenting the letter of appointment to M'sian...
-
Paris court grants Malaysia's application to suspend claims by purported heirs of Sultan Jamalul Kiram II Bernama Julai 13, 2022 Dr Wa...
-
Seven million Malaysians yet to take booster dose against COVID-19 - PM Bernama Julai 11, 2022 Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaako...
Popular Posts - Last 30 days
-
A man was stabbed to death by his lover who was a part-time model in an incident at a condominium unit in Kota Kemuning here on Monday. It i...
-
Paris court grants Malaysia's application to suspend claims by purported heirs of Sultan Jamalul Kiram II Bernama Julai 13, 2022 Dr Wa...
-
Maybank Singapore withdraws lawsuit against NFC chairman, children over housing loans Bernama Julai 12, 2022 Maybank Singapore Limited has...
-
Motorcycle crash: Couple accept casualties to twin children as fate Bernama Julai 17, 2022 A couple lost a child while another suffered se...
-
Wan Saiful confirms he is no longer PTPTN chairman Bernama Julai 12, 2022 Bersatu Information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan today confirm...
-
MH17 tragedy: Dewan Rakyat expresses condolences to families of passengers, crew Bernama Julai 18, 2022 The Dewan Rakyat today marked the ...
-
Kedah MB: ECK no longer part of Kulim airport project Bernama Julai 13, 2022 Muhammad Sanusi announced that the ECK Group of Companies (EC...
-
COVID-19: New cases in Malaysia take a slight dip again Melissa Fernando ASTRO AWANI Julai 19, 2022 12:00 MYT COVID-19: New cases in Malays...
-
Malaysian Space Board to be fully launched early next year - Dr Adham Bernama Julai 18, 2022 The Malaysian Space Board will be fully launc...
-
Naz Empire's defamation lawsuit against Awal Ashaari to go to trial as mediation fails Bernama Julai 12, 2022 The defamation lawsuit f...
Blog Archive
-
►
2023
(3771)
- December (311)
- November (322)
- October (286)
- September (288)
- August (365)
- July (349)
- June (372)
- May (316)
- April (279)
- March (301)
- February (245)
- January (337)
-
►
2022
(4309)
- December (352)
- November (422)
- October (288)
- September (281)
- August (347)
- July (303)
- June (335)
- May (406)
- April (341)
- March (371)
- February (390)
- January (473)
-
►
2021
(9030)
- December (636)
- November (647)
- October (809)
- September (797)
- August (880)
- July (894)
- June (747)
- May (780)
- April (580)
- March (629)
- February (643)
- January (988)
-
►
2020
(6800)
- December (819)
- November (698)
- October (832)
- September (729)
- August (548)
- July (558)
- June (615)
- May (394)
- April (368)
- March (453)
- February (439)
- January (347)
-
▼
2019
(4089)
- December (411)
- November (425)
- October (375)
- September (279)
- August (397)
- July (353)
- June (326)
- May (315)
- April (266)
- March (318)
- February (293)
- January (331)
-
►
2018
(4100)
- December (305)
- November (304)
- October (357)
- September (352)
- August (420)
- July (442)
- June (366)
- May (412)
- April (343)
- March (275)
- February (233)
- January (291)
-
►
2017
(3888)
- December (268)
- November (293)
- October (352)
- September (309)
- August (356)
- July (300)
- June (319)
- May (354)
- April (316)
- March (335)
- February (306)
- January (380)
-
►
2016
(4563)
- December (331)
- November (328)
- October (378)
- September (415)
- August (404)
- July (380)
- June (310)
- May (370)
- April (430)
- March (484)
- February (355)
- January (378)
-
►
2015
(4588)
- December (402)
- November (392)
- October (393)
- September (375)
- August (450)
- July (392)
- June (456)
- May (407)
- April (408)
- March (374)
- February (262)
- January (277)