The extradition of fugitive Islamic preacher Zakir Naik came up during discussions between India and Malaysia, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has told NDTV, saying the issue was being handled privately to protect the interests of both countries.
“In private discussions, of course, these engagements continue,” Ibrahim said after holding a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday.
“We thought we should keep it very private to protect the interests of both nations. But we, of course, put it on the priority list for building trust and relationship between our countries,” he added.
Asked about Naik’s extradition, Ibrahim said Malaysia needed to proceed cautiously while respecting the rule of law.
“We have some understanding of it (extradition demand) but we need to do it very cautiously,” he said. “Respect the rule of law and the importance of these bilateral relations.”
Naik, an Indian Islamic preacher, has been living in Malaysia as a permanent resident since 2016. Indian authorities have accused him of money laundering and delivering speeches that allegedly promote hatred, charges he has denied.
India has formally sought his extradition from Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur has previously said it would consider cooperation through established legal channels and has stressed the need for due process and credible evidence.
Naik moved to Malaysia after Indian authorities began investigations into him and organisations linked to him, including the Islamic Research Foundation and Peace TV. He was subsequently granted permanent residency in the country.
Interpol had earlier declined an Indian request to issue a Red Notice against Naik, citing insufficient grounds under its rules.
Naik has also faced controversy in Malaysia. In 2019, he came under criticism after making remarks about Malaysia’s ethnic Chinese and Indian communities. He later apologised for the remarks, while authorities in several Malaysian states imposed restrictions on his public speaking.
The extradition issue has remained a point of discussion in India-Malaysia ties, with New Delhi seeking Naik’s return while Kuala Lumpur has maintained that any action must comply with Malaysian law.
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