Zakir Naik to remain in Malaysia unless he causes problems (Updated)

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia will not deport Islamic preacher Dr Zakir Naik (pix) so long as he does not cause any problems, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.
"As long as he is not creating any problem, we will not deport him because he has been given permanent resident status," he said at a press conference here.
Earlier, Dr Mahathir, who is also the chairman of Pakatan Harapan, had chaired a meeting of the Pakatan Harapan Presidential Council at the Perdana Leadership Foundation.
He responded to a question whether Zakir would be deported to India or be allowed to remain in Malaysia.
Several news portals had reported that Zakir would be deported to India.
Zakir left India in 2016 after he was alleged to have inspired terror attacks in Bangladesh and allegedly got involved in money laundering.
The Indian government revoked his passport after he ignored numerous requests of the National Investigation Agency of India to assist in its investigation.
Last Wednesday, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun dismissed an allegation that Zakir would be extradited to India, saying there was no instruction to that effect.
Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir was also asked about the developments pertaining to businessman Low Taek Jhow or Jho Low who was being sought over the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.
He said: “I have not been following the voyages of Jho Low, so I don’t know where he is. It is up to the people who are tasked to look for him.”
IGP Mohamad Fuzi said yesterday that Jho Low had gone to Macau based on reports received while he was being traced in Hong Kong recently.
On June 15, the Immigration Department revoked the passport of Jho Low at the request of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission as he was being sought to assist in the probe into the 1MDB scandal. — Bernama