PAS asks if India got commitment on extraditing Zakir Naik

The opposition party PAS has questioned whether Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim made any political commitments to India regarding the extradition request for controversial preacher Zakir Naik. In a recent meeting between Anwar and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the BRICS summit, Indian media reported that the extradition issue was discussed.

PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan stated that Malaysia's existing relationships with India across various sectors should not take precedence over Malaysian laws when it comes to extradition matters. He emphasized that Malaysia should carefully consider any legitimate extradition request from India, strictly adhering to legal processes rather than making political concessions.

The Kota Bharu MP raised concerns about the possibility of Zakir Naik becoming a "political victim" or a "diplomatic concession" if Malaysia prioritizes its friendship with India over due legal procedures. He urged the government to provide more details about the current legal and diplomatic status of India's extradition request, the nature of discussions between Anwar and Modi, and whether any agreement was reached.

Moreover, Takiyuddin requested clarification on whether the evidence and documentation supporting India's extradition request comply with Malaysian legal requirements. The extradition proceedings against Naik, who has permanent residency in Malaysia, began in 2018 over allegations of money laundering and hate speech. Naik denies all charges against him, and Malaysia has consistently stated that it will only comply with the request if provided with concrete and credible evidence. Interpol has also declined to issue a red notice against Naik due to insufficient grounds.