Controversial preacher Zakir Naik, currently residing in Malaysia, could leave the country after he came under fire for making inflammatory comments about Malaysian Hindus and Chinese.

The latest news is that his permanent residency is under review, and lawyers have weighed in saying that there are sufficient laws to charge him.

Background

Zakir is a native Indian and a Malaysian permanent resident, but is wanted in India for suspected money-laundering and hate speech.

On Aug. 8, he was speaking at a dialogue session in Kelantan, according to Malaysiakini.

Send back the old "guests" first

While discussing the spread of Islam in Southeast Asia, Zakir said that the Chinese, Indians and British were "guests" in Malaysia.

He added that if some people wanted him to leave Malaysia, the Chinese Malaysians should leave first.

He said:

"You know someone called me a guest. So I said, before me, the Chinese were the guests. If you want the new guest to go first, ask the old guest to go back.

The Chinese aren't born here, most of them. Maybe the new generations, yes."

Zakir also claimed that Hindu Malaysians "trusted" the government of India more than they did Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

Zakir's comments caused an uproar, with many Malaysians denouncing his views.

He subsequently claimed he was "misquoted" in his remarks about Hindu Malaysians, but as of Aug. 15, has yet to explain his remarks about Chinese Malaysians.

Ministers urge deportation

Several Pakatan Harapan ministers in Mahathir's Cabinet have called for Zakir's deportation.

On Aug. 14, Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman told reporters that attacking Malaysia's minority communities is an attack on all of Malaysia.

According to the Malay Mail, Syed, who also serves as PPBM's Youth Chief, was asked if he agreed with calls by fellow ministers to deport Zakir.

He said:

"Yes. An attack on our Chinese and Indian brothers and sisters is an attack against all Malaysians."

Syed added:

"It’s ridiculous to even think that my fellow Malaysians are my tetamu (guests). They are my family for God’s sake. Enough is enough."

He followed up his comments with a tweet:

Orang Cina Malaysia BUKAN TETAMU, tetapi warganegara Malaysia yang cintakan Negara bertuah ini.

Kekuatan Malaysia adalah kesatuan rakyatnya.

Cukup lah perlekehkan kesatuan & kesetiaan kita.

Saya kenal ramai orang cina & india yang sanggup mati pertahankan negara tercinta kita https://t.co/RlGkMipSYD

— Syed Saddiq 🇲🇾🌺 (@SyedSaddiq) August 14, 2019

Translated, it reads:

"The Chinese Malaysians are NOT GUESTS, but Malaysian citizens who love this fortunate country.

The strength of Malaysia is the unity of its people.

Please don't smear our unity and loyalty.

I know many Chinese and Indians who are willing to die to defend our beloved country."

DAP and PKR ministers want Zakir to leave

According to The Star, Communications and Multimedia minister Gobind Singh Deo and Human Resources minister M Kula Segaran told Mahathir they felt Zakir could no longer be allowed to remain in the country.

The ministers, who are members of the DAP, said:

"We expressed our position that action must be taken and Zakir should no longer be allowed to remain in Malaysia.

The Prime Minister has taken note of our concerns. We leave it to him to consider the position and to decide soonest possible what will be done to deal with the problem."

Al Jazeera also quoted Xavier Jayakumar, minister of Land, Water and Natural Resources. Xavier, who is a member of PKR, as saying:

"We do not need such individuals to issue seditious statements with the intention of driving a wedge between Muslims and non-Muslims in Malaysia."

Mahathir finds it difficult

However, Bernama reported that Mahathir said it was difficult to send Zakir back to India for fear that "he may be killed".

But he is willing to consider suggestions of sending Zakir to any other country who may want him.

On Aug. 15, The Straits Times quoted an unnamed source with "knowledge of the matter", who said that the Cabinet agreed that Zakir had to go.

Zakir's permanent residency is also under the purview of the Home Ministry, and it can reviewed if necessary.

He is also not immune to criminal charges.

However, the Malaysian government will "pressure" Zakir to leave the country on his own accord, as Zakir enjoys support from a number of radical Muslims in the country.

Top image from Zakir Naik's Facebook page and Syed Saddiq's Instagram.