Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim Pledges No Tolerance for Terrorism If Evidence Against Zakir Naik is Presented

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia said the country will not tolerate terrorism if credible evidence against fugitive preacher Zakir Naik is provided. Although the issue wasn't discussed with PM Modi recently, Malaysia is committed to counter-terrorism efforts and maintaining bilateral relations with India.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim declared that if sufficient evidence is presented regarding fugitive preacher Zakir Naik, Malaysia will 'not condone terrorism'. However, he noted that this issue was not raised during his recent discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Speaking at the 50th Sapru House Lecture, Prime Minister Ibrahim emphasized, "The issue was not raised by the Prime Minister. He brought it up years ago. We are concerned about extremism, and if there's compelling evidence of atrocities committed by individuals or groups, we will address it." He condemned Israeli actions in Gaza and emphasized the importance of strong bilateral relations while remaining open to discussions on terrorism-related issues.

Anwar said terrorism is a significant concern for Malaysia and highlighted ongoing collaborations with India on this matter. He stressed that one case should not hinder further cooperation between the two nations.

Fugitive preacher Zakir Naik, who moved to Malaysia in 2016 and reportedly secured permanent residency, faces charges in India of spreading hate and money laundering. Naik's Islamic Research Foundation was declared unlawful in 2022 by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in India.

(With inputs from agencies.)