MARANG: Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang has praised Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for standing firm on his decision not to deport controversial Muslim preacher Dr Zakir Naik to India.
He said the Prime Minister had made a wise decision based on facts and not on sentiments.
According to Hadi, Pas had previously voiced its concern to the government on the issue, which it feels is purely academic but had been politicised.
“The call to deport Dr Zakir was initiated by the Malaysiakini news portal and DAP, whose members failed to understand and address Islam through academic discourse, (and hid) their failure or inability to counter (Dr Zakir) by turning (the matter) into a political one.
“Academic issues should be tackled academically, and not turned into a political dialogue. It shows that you (those who want Dr Zakir deported) have no respect for the level of his (Dr Zakir’s) intellect.
“Don’t mistreat him (Dr Zakir) when you fail to debate with him. We have told the government about our concern, and now we will also pray to Allah to listen to us.
“If the government deports him, it reflects our stupidity and weakness. But the matter became a polemic when DAP and Malaysiakini harped on it,” he told reporters after his weekly usrah at the Rusila mosque here, today (Aug 23).
Asked about the possibility of non-governmental organisations taking to the streets to protest against Dr Zakir’s stay in Malaysia, Hadi said that it is up to the police to decide “But if the NGOs are allowed to hold such a rally, then Pas is more than ready to organise a similar rally”.
Hadi added that the police should investigate who started the issue and made it a political polemic, and take necessary action against them.
On the announcement by the Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Abdul Hamid Bador that Dr Zakir would be barred from using all media platforms to preach or hold ceramah, Hadi said that the police should know how to differentiate between a political and religious ceramah.
“If it is a religious matter, then the police should coordinate it with the respective religious departments, basically on providing security. Similarly, if it is a political ceramah, the police need to discuss the matter with the relevant political parties, also on security.
“But we will have to respect any decision made by the police. In Dr Zakir’s case, we will not get him entangled in local politics. If you had been observant, his presence at a ceramah in Kelantan (recently) was organised by the state government and not Pas.
“Unfortunately, some quarters had raised (suspicions). There are parties worried about Malay unity, but fail to see that we want all to be united, irrespective of race or religion,” he added.
On the growing number of incidents of the Malaysian flag being hung upside down, Hadi said that the police should be firm on its actions, because the flag is not just a symbol of the nation, but must be respected by all who call themselves Malaysian.
“The younger generation must be taught about Malaysian history. They must know about the country’s struggle against communism and those involved in fighting for the country’s independence, and that includes the Chinese and Indians,” he added.